Vitamin tests via blue horizons or medichecks

[Macey2009]

Hi i was looking into getting my key vitamins tested. I've had them done via medichecks but this was a few years ago now. I can only see individual tests now which would work out too dear.

Is there a bundle that stone knows of avd maybe i have just missed it?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Macey2009

They come bundled with the full thyroid panel, that's the cheapest way to get them done.

Comparable full Thyroid and Vitamin test bundles as follows:

Medichecks ADVANCED THYROID FUNCTION medichecks.com/products/adv...

Check this page for details of any discounts: thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid PREMIUM GOLD bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Check this page for discount code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test with just a few small differences:

Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.

B12 - Blue Horizon does Total B12 which measures bound and unbound (active) B12 but doesn't give a separate result for each. Medichecks does Active B12.

Total B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Total B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)

Blue Horizon include magnesium but this is an unreliable test so don't let this sway your decision, it also tests cortisol but that's a random cortisol test and to make any sense of it you'd need to do it fasting before 9am I believe.

It's worth noting the following.

We sometimes see on the forum that members who have done this test have had the folate test fail and possibly one or more of the others. This can be because the sample has possibly haemolysed, ie the red cells rupture. This may be due to:

* bacteria (so clean area thoroughly and allow to dry)

* intense exercise (so don't go mad trying to get the blood to flow prior to the test)

* squeezing the finger to get the blood out

* shaking the tube vigourously instead of gently inverting it.

Sometimes there's not enough blood in the tube to do all 10 tests so it's important to fill the tube to the line or slightly above.

The Medichecks tube requires 0.6ml of blood, the Blue Horizon tube requires 0.8ml of blood (at least they did last time I used them).

Note that Medichecks normal Ts and Cs state that for fingerprick tests in the event of failure a second test it will be sent out free of charge. However, they make it clear that where the Advanced Thyroid Function Test is concerned this does not apply when the folate test fails:

The retest process above does not apply to the Advanced Thyroid Function Blood Test when the finger-prick sample collection method is used and the failure relates only to folate (i.e. all other markers in the test are reported normally). Please refer to the test product page for details on the refund process should this happen. By ordering a finger-prick kit for this test you agree that a refund will be your only remedy in the event that you do not receive a result for folate only.

I can't find the exact details but I believe the amount of the refund is about £8.

[Macey2009 in reply to SeasideSusie]

OK thanks for the info. Thats a bit too expensive at the moment. My gp does my thyroid tests every 6 months and i don't need the antibodies as they're already positive so i was hoping i could have got a cheaper test with the vitamins only.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Macey2009]

Keep an eye on Medichecks on a Thursday. They have special discounts then on random thyroid related tests. Quite often their Advanced Thyroid Function comes up and they reduce it by £10, which is a little bit cheaper than their normal 10% discount code (you can't use the discount code on a test that's on special offer). That really is the cheapest way to get the four key nutrients tested even if you don't want the thyroid related tests.

Also, if you sign up to their emails they occasionally send through a 20% code.

[Macey2009 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I will keep an eye out. Thank you.