Medichecks Active B12 Result

[lucylocks]

Hi

I recently did my annual Thyroid advance test with Medichecks and I am very confused about the Active B12 results.

When I did the test last year in May my Active B12 test came back at 41

range 37.5 -150.

My doctor then tested the total B12 which came back 123, bottom of the range 115. I had stopped supplementing the year before because of getting hives and was trying to eliminate the cause thinking maybe one of my supplements were causing them.

When I got last years result I decided not to restart supplements thinking if the B12 dropped below range I would be offered injections, so I was very surprised to see this years result with Medichecks has risen to 102.

I have emailed them saying I do not understand how it has risen so much as I have not been supplementing and there reply was, it must be from my diet, I explained my diet had not change over the last year, which they then replied, my gut health must have improved and I must be absorbing the B12 from my diet. I replied back saying I have not taken or done anything to improve my gut health, in fact I feel it is worse now because I am suffering more heartburn and indigestion.

I have asked if they would redo the test as I feel this recent result could be an error.

They have said they will not do it free of charge but will offer 20% off if I want to re do the test.

Has anyone else received a result that they feel cannot be right and have you queried with Medichecks.

Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What’s your folate level

Your B12 can be falsely high if deficient in other B vitamins

Thyroid patients often deficient in B1 thiamine

Suggest you consider starting a daily vitamin B complex

Remember to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before all blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

In the week you stop you might want to consider taking separate folate and separate B12

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Unless you tested positive for Pernicious Anaemia GP would only prescribe B12 supplement rather than B12 injections anyway

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

Many thanks for your reply

Last year folate was 2.7and this year rose to 5.4.

I am not vegan, I eat a variety of meats.

Is there a test for vitamin B1 ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lucylocks]

Not that I know of

Folate still not very high ….you want at least over 10 and higher probably better

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[wellness1]

Is there a test for vitamin B1 ?

Serum B1 levels can be tested.

medichecks.com/products/vit...

Here's some information on thiamine, including recommended dosage.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

SlowDragon's recommendation of a B complex would be a good starting point if you're concerned with your level.

[lucylocks in reply to wellness1]

Many thanks for the links, test is quite expensive, I’m not sure whether to re do B12 test or not first.

[wellness1 in reply to lucylocks]

I 'm definitely not recommending it, to the contrary. I was just answering your question about whether it's possible to test. All this private testing adds up, as do the supplements. I personally think the money is better spent on thyroid testing and the key ones recommended here, D3, B12, Ferritin, and Folate. You'd be fine taking a B-complex without knowing your level, if that's something you're considering.

[Serendipitious]

Yes I had a similar situation with Vitamin D. The NHS test I did about two weeks later was a lot lower but they wouldn’t offer a retest.

[lucylocks in reply to Serendipitious]

It would be good if they did offer to re test just for our peace of mind.

[Serendipitious in reply to lucylocks]

They responded by asking for a food diary which they said their GPs would look at 🤨

[lucylocks in reply to Serendipitious]

They said it was connected to my diet, I said my diet is the same as last year, they then said it must be better gut absorption, I am disappointed they will not re do the test as I and my family have been using them for years.

[Serendipitious in reply to lucylocks]

Yes I feel just as disappointed as you. Levels can’t change within 10 days. I don’t buy their explanation at all. The NHS result was around 55 and theirs was 70. Quite a difference. Not impressed and won’t use that test again. Just don’t know where else I can get a similar advanced thyroid panel.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Serendipitious]

Just for info, Medichecks, Blue Horizon and Thriva all use Eurofins County Pathology lab.

Over all the years I've used Medichecks and BH they've both used The Doctor's Laboratory once, the rest of the time it's been Eurofins CP.

Thriva also sometimes uses Pura Diagnostics according to their website.

So there's not really much of a choice of which lab actually processes the test.

[lucylocks in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for the information.

[Serendipitious in reply to SeasideSusie]

I had issues with Medichecks tests before so I’ve recently started visiting TDL for a blood draw in the hope that as they have their own lab there won’t be any issues. The only thing I can think of is that my blood draw was on a Saturday morning and the phlebotomist said you will get your result on Monday, not the same day. If you go on a weekday it’s the same day. When I got back to them about the result and I pointed this out they said something along the lines of that it was already on the analyser?

[QUE6T-33 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah, they told me they only use TDL & County Pathology for the Active B12 test.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to QUE6T-33]

Medichecks use both those labs for all their tests. I've used Medichecks many time and had results mainly from Eurofins CP but once from TDL. Eurofins is County Pathology.

[QUE6T-33 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Didn’t realise that. I trust TDL testing, so would be surprised if their home test results were scewed.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I raised a query with medichecks earlier this year as (due to sample error) I had 2 tests only day apart, with conflicting vitamins results. I posted about this on the forum. When I queried this, they agreed there must be an anomaly & I was given a full retest free of charge.

[lucylocks in reply to Buddy195]

They will only offer me 20% discount on the re test, not sure what to do really.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

More heartburn might imply a more acidic stomach. In turn, that might suggest better functioning of the stomach resulting in better digestion, more production of Intrinsic Factor, hence better absorption of B12!

Heartburn, reflux, etc., can occur because of issues with the lower oesophageal sphincter rather than absolute acidity or quantity of acid produced. But if you had low stomach acid, you might not notice reflux, or at least, not as much.

[lucylocks in reply to helvella]

Thank you, I always thought one had low stomach acid when hypothyroid.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to lucylocks]

Yes - that tends to be the case. But if you become more adequately treated for hypothyroidism, the acid production is able to rise.

[lucylocks]

Oh ok thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thought you might be interested in this re B12

b12oils.com/paradoxical.htm...

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for the link it is really interesting, although I must admit to not understanding it all, but now I wonder if I should get my MMA and homocysteine tested before starting supplements.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lucylocks]

Personally I just started taking a daily vitamin B complex

Prior to that I always had high B12 (and lots low low B12 symptoms)

For first few months I took separate B12 as well, then slowly reduce and stopped the separate B12. Just carried on with daily vitamin B complex

In week before blood test when stopping vitamin B complex I then take a separate folate and separate B12 just for that week

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Can I start a separate B12 and B Complex together or start one of them first then add the other in a week or two?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lucylocks]

Suggest you start the vitamin B complex first

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you.

[QUE6T-33]

How long before Active B12 test did you stop taking B12 supplement? Medichecks say 2 weeks, but another post on this forum said 3 months!I’m due to do a test myself & grateful any advice on that please.

[lucylocks in reply to QUE6T-33]

Hi

yes I was told three months on the forum also. I had stopped mine for quite a few months anyway as I was getting hives and was trying to find if any of my supplements were causing them. I am not sure why Medichecks say two weeks. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

[QUE6T-33 in reply to lucylocks]

Thanks lucylocks 😊