I ordered the advanced thyroid test kit from Medichecks, I had read that you use a fingerprick to take a sample, & naively assumed you only needed a drop, although I did wonder how they could test it for so many things!
I have just opened it up & there is a small tube to fill up, I am extremely squeamish & just don't think I will be able to do it! I know there was an option to have blood taken at a clinc for £30 which would suit me more, but I live in a rural area with no car at the moment.
Anyone else find them difficult? It would be eaiser for me if I couldn't see the blood but don't think that would be possible.
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I've just watched their top tips video & will follow their advice.
I had an nhs blood test last year & my platelet level was well above normal range which I found out can be caused by low iron. I am concerned that will make it more difficult to get a sample as well, with all the platelets doing what they are meant to do!
* Be well hydrated, drink plenty of water the day before, and before you do the test.
* Some people take a shower before hand, some run up and down the stairs to get blood flowing. Personally, as I can't run up and down the stairs, I circle my arm round, windmill style.
* Have a bowl full of hot water, dip hand in and out, swish around, hand needs to go red. If blood flow stops, you can always swish round in the hot water again.
* Stand up to do the test. Make sure your arm is straight down when collecting the blood. Either use a small step stool to raise yourself well above the work surface, or put the collection tube on a lowish shelf or use an ironing board to get the perfect height.
* Prick finger on the side, not the tip. I find that half way between the nail bed and tip is about right, or maybe slightly nearer the nail bed rather than the tip. I use my ring finger, but middle finger is next best for me.
* Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it can damage the blood and it may not be usable
I've recently done 2 tests. The first one there was very little blood coming out which was unusual for me so I used a second finger and between the two I gradually filled the tube. However, when I checked the prick site for the first finger the actual cut was very small and as I've had some of these lancets fail before I put it down to that. When I did the second test this is what I did
* Prick my finger as usual, at the same time try and make a very slight twist with the lancet (the blade retracts very quickly so you have like a nano second to twist the lancet). I'm not talking 90 degrees or anything, just a very slight twist to make the cut just slightly bigger, it doesn't hurt or cause a blood bath! This made a big difference, 11 generous drops of blood filled the tube in less 2 minutes.
If you supplement with Biotin, or a B complex containing it (B7), leave it off for 3-7 days before doing any blood tests as it can give false results when biotin is used in the testing procedure, and most labs do use it.
Sometimes the sample can haemolyse, 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 (you can gently "milk" the finger but don't squeeze)
* shaking the tube vigourously instead of gently inverting it.
You're not alone! I also find them difficult but I'm not squemish, I find it painful and sore to do. I feel like now I have a fear of doing them and it can take me some time (a few hours!) before I can psych myself up to get it done. Also I now use a numbing cream to help alleviate the pain, which helps.
SeasideSusie (one of the admin) offers some great tips to help you complete the fingerprick test. So I would read them before you have a go at it. The main thing I've found is make sure that you're well hydrated the day before.
It is usually recommended on the forum to complete a finger prick test earlier in the week; if you did it tomorrow the chances are it may sit in the post for too long before it gets processed then you could possibly have to repeat the test.
Would you feel comfortable letting someone else do the test for you? Not sure how easy that would be? But at least then you could look away and so not see the blood?
Thanks Hedgeree, after hearing how difficult it is even when not squeamish, I am sure there's no way I can collect that much blood. I just read some old posts on here where people had got a nurse at their GPs to take the blood, I think I will try that, as I was meant to go back for a blood test after the first one, as GP had put me on vit D & iron tabs. Am staying with family in a weeks time so will might ask them, but don't think they will be keento do it either. Failing that I will just have to find a way to get to one of Medichecks partner clinics.
I once used a day of annual leave to have a consultation about laser eye surgery, as soon as they started describing what they actually do I felt faint & they had to bring me a glass of water, & told me to put head between my knees. I got some sort of stress rash & had to change my mind about having it done!
I've been using Emla cream 5g. It can be a bit messy as you have to wrap your finger in a clear plaster type of covering after you've put the cream on.
Then you wipe it off before you do the finger prick test. I think its used for people having venous blood tests or I think are getting a tattoo so is more for covering a bigger area of skin.
I'm now looking at numbing sprays but I haven't decided yet which one to use but I think it may be less messy than the cream.
I contacted Monitor My Health and explained to them the problems I was having doing the fingerprick tests. I then asked them if it was ok to use a numbing cream and they said it would be ok. I felt it was a good idea to check first before I bought it.
Is it worth knowing that the tube is not as big as it looks? it has a gloop of something (i forget what) in it already, so it doesn't need as much filling as it appears.
I had great trouble getting enough blood out. I ended up squeezing my fingers which you’re not meant to do and eventually got it about half filled. I felt really upset and rang Medichecks for advice. The woman was very nice and said I should send it off anyway. When I got the results I was surprised to see that they were all done! I must say that I’m not looking forward to next time!! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I used to have this problem. I would say that soaking my hand in hot water and/or running up and down the stairs was a game changer! Now I can get really big drops which fill the tube with 4 drops.
Just had a Medichecks blood test. Despite taking an anticoagulant, very little came out. Plus I ended up with a very bruised couple of fingers. Good luck!
I think that I managed a tiny, tiny drop and gave up. My finger was sore for weeks as I must have hit a nerve. To get a blood draw I have to queue at my local hospital as the GP surgery here doesn’t do this whereas my old surgery did. I think that I was unlucky as many manage to do a finger prick test with no problems. Good luck.
It can be daunting, but don't worry, you get used to doing it. I've done 3 finger prick home ones so far, and had a little trouble up until the last one where it was super easy. Susie's post is very helpful, and like someone said, they do put some type of agent in the tube so it isn't a massive amount of blood needed. Last week when I did another, I made sure I'd done a few arm exercises to get the blood flowing and I also had my hands in warm water for a good while, and the test went very easily.
Just a thought for the future -my surgery is happy to test for tsh and other stuff so when I go in I ask for an extra file of blood and send that off and seems to have worked so far-especially bonkers when it’s going to same lab!
I have always been very squeamish, had to lie down to get blood taken in case I pass out. First finger prick test I got myself in a right state doing it trying not to pass out, wet flannel on the back of my neck doing maths in my head to distract etc and struggled to get enough blood. But the vial IS deceiving, it really isn't much blood needed and I didn't know about lots of water the day before and all the other tips. I also started taking turmeric for inflammation and it thins the blood a little. When I do finger prick now it's all done in a minute and doesn't bother me at all. Doing them has made me much less squeamish, jabs done with no issues for example... Mind not had blood taken yet. I like that I am in control doing finger prick samples I guess.Follow all SeasideSusie advice and give it a go.
I’m usually quite squeamish when it comes to doing things to myself, but honestly the finger prick test is nothing at all to worry about. My finger is a little sore afterwards, but nothing much. My blood seems to clot more easily some days than others so it’s luck of the draw, but making sure I’m well-hydrated the day before helps.
Hello there.I have done a medichecks blood test and was also worried about the amount of blood required.I followed the tips.Swinging my arms around, soaking my hands in hot water etc and the tube fills surprisingly quickly. I was very stressed about it and a bit shaky but managed it myself. I did have to use 2 fingers aswell.I'm sure you'll be able to do it.just take your time and read instructions carefully a couple of times so you're clear in your head.Good luck
From memory I think it takes around 10-15 drops of blood to fill the tube. The last time I did one it was filled in less than a minute, LOL—think I managed to hit a bigger capillary with the needle thingie!
Honestly, I’ve never found this too difficult to do. The trick is to be well-hydrated and warm if possible. And remember, you can always prick another finger if the first prick doesn’t result in a decent flow.
The worst one is when you need to fill up two tubes!! Last year I had an accident and lost part of my index finger and makes life even more difficult. Then medichecks sent an email directly after acknowledging receipt saying that B12 was not reliable and would send an £8 refund if this found to be the case.
We have an app called Nextdoor, I am sure it's nationwide. Anyway, I posted up a request for a qualified phlebotomist or nurse in my area who would be willing to come to my home one morning and do a venous blood draw to be paid of course (by this time Medichecks had sent a venous kit) I had a lovely lady who is a nurse and she did it perfectly despite the fact the needles they provide are like knitting needles. She wouldn't accept payment but mentioned she had a dog, so i thrust £25 at her and said treat your dog to something. She even got rid of the needle etc for me and posted it. It is almost impossible to get an appointment first thing in the morning at GP surgery for TSH and l don't drive. Unsurprisingly TSH came back well over 8 and even more surprisingly lol, GP ignored this and did his own sample in mid afternoon so it conveniently came down to just under 5.
Eek, 2 tubes, that would be daunting! I 've realised that a niece's husband is a nurse (& she was an HCA) & will be visiting near them next week. With all the advice here I will try & do it myself, as it is something that will need doing regularly, & only ask them for help if I don't manage it. Yes same here, it's difficult to get GP appointments, for any time of day!
Might it be slightly easier if you wrapped a temporary little piece of paper round the outside of the tube so that you cant actually see it filling so to speak? It takes around about 11 drops as Seaside susie mentioned, which seems less daunting than watching something 'fill' and as others said its mostly that sticky blending goop at the bottom of the tube that takes up alot of space and magnifies the space.
There is also a possibility if you have no transport that an online mobile phlebotomist could come to you, you would need to check out your local area, and they do blood draws usually for a fixed fee.
I also bought the test and it took me ages to get enough blood and then after they received it they said the sample was no use, they have sent me another one but I’m reluctant to do it as the same will probably happen, so I’m not sure what to do either?
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