Is Friday morning too late to send off a finger prick test?

[Jenny583]

Hi, I was wondering if Friday is too late to send off FPT. I have been without transport for last week, & will have to walk to shops tomorrow, thereafter I will need to try & find mechanic...or socket extender to fit my car new battery! should I leave it till next week? TIA x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Leaving it until Monday or Tuesday

Don’t do test in hot weather either

[Jenny583 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon, much appreciated!👍 I didn't know about the hot weather aspect🤔 I will follow your advice x

[MariaStrawCinar]

I was going to do mine tomorrow - why not on a Friday ? Also how long away from taking biotin before testing. ?

[OudMood in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

You need to stop Biotin at least 7 days before the test.

There’s nothing wrong of a Friday, but Monday-Tuesday is preferred so the sample is not sitting in the postal system over the weekend.

If posting Monday-Tuesday, will 100% be received by lab by Friday.

I guess is to do with how the sample may be stored..

[MariaStrawCinar in reply to OudMood]

I see thanks so I’ve just started CBD gummies for anxiety and pain and they have biotin as one of the ingredients so would have to stop them.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

MariaStrawCinar

why not on a Friday ?

Because the blood sample ideally should be tested as soon as possible and the quicker it arrives at the lab the better, preferably the next day. If you post on a Friday the earliest it might arrive is Saturday and not all labs work Saturdays so it will be hanging around over the weekend waiting to be processed on the Monday.

The return envelopes included in the kits tend to be "Tracked 24" but this doesn't mean they will arrive the next day. There is no guarantee with that service and it often takes 2 days.

It's best to send back by Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm service, you have to hand it over the post office counter, pay extra for the service and get a receipt with tracking number. You can track it on RM's website and if it doesn't arrive the next day you can claim the fee back as long as you have the tracking number.

Just in case there are any delays for whatever reason, we always advise posting back on a Monday or Tuesday whatever service you use.

Also how long away from taking biotin before testing. ?

This depends on how much biotin your supplement contains. The amount in a B Complex is usually a fairly small amount and 3 days would be enough. The amount in a hair supplement containing biotin, or a stand along biotin supplement, will be more and 7 days would be better in that case. You don't have to go any longer than that.

OudMood Jenny583 tagging you both for the biotin information, it doesn't need to be any more than a week, and in some cases less.

[MariaStrawCinar in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah thanks I just started these CBD gummies which have biotin 5000. What is it exactly as there are also other B vits in these gummies

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

Biotin is a B vitamin - B7. Is that 5,000 micrograms (mcg or ug)?

The problem with biotin is that it gives false results for any blood test if biotin is used in the testing procedure (which most labs do) which is why we need to leave it off for a few days.

[MariaStrawCinar in reply to SeasideSusie]

mcg

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

OK, so that amount of biotin is more than what is included in a B Complex but not the very high dose that is said to affect test results, that would be about 5mg, but still leave off for a few days before any blood tests.

[Jenny583 in reply to SeasideSusie]

5000 mcg is 5mg isn't it? would that not be high enough to leave for a week?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jenny583]

Yes, of course it is, sorry. Yes, leave off for a week.

[Jenny583]

I don't know why it should not be done on a Friday, I post from overseas, but I read somewhere that Monday or Tuesday is best, perhaps for speed of postage.

A week away from test if taking biotin, more if it's high dose, wish i'd known that sooner!