Advanced Thyroid Function Blood Test medichecks

[Chasing-rainbows]

Is it just one blood bottle for this test?

Just about managed one bottle for the basic TSH, FT3 and FT4 test but didn't know if the advanced test requires more bottles given it tests for so much more (10 biomarkers)

[Anthea55]

It always seems to be the same amount. You will receive the correct kit and instructions.

[Chasing-rainbows in reply to Anthea55]

I haven't ordered it, just planning ahead for next time. Think I'll be getting at least 6-12 monthly checks as I've realised I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands.

I found it quite difficult even getting enough for the one little bottle, took a couple of attempts so would put me off I think if it was more than one.

[Anthea55 in reply to Chasing-rainbows]

I know what you mean. Sometimes I get very little, but last time I must have hit the right spot and I got far too much.

SeasideSusie has a very useful list of tips for doing the tests.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Chasing-rainbows]

Yes, just one microtainer, fill to the 600 line (0.6ml).

My tips for fingerprick tests:

* 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 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 has 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 (you can gently "milk" the finger but don't squeeze)

* shaking the tube vigourously instead of gently inverting it.

* sample collection was prolonged

* if there was a long delay between sample collection and analysis

* there is too little blood in the tube and too much coagulant for the amount of blood

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.

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.

The amount of the refund appears to be £8.

Video showing how to do a fingerprick test:

youtube.com/watch?v=w2JzToZ...(Not working as expected?)

[Chasing-rainbows in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's really helpful thanks.