I went to the GP this morning and had my blood taken. I then get a call saying that I will not be able to have my T3 tested without a form from my consultant. I don't have a consultant so that's not possible.
I will need to have the test done privately. I will not be able to get enough blood doing it at home myself. I have tried before a few times for other things and I don't get blood. They have a hard enough time at the surgery!
I was looking at Monitor My Health basic test for £29, and £26.10 with the discount. The nurse said I could have it done at the surgery. Would this test be suitable for doing at the surgery with a needle? If not, what test do I need to order?
I don't need to use MMH, I could do it with anyone so long as it can be done with a needle.
Thank you!
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AppleOrchard
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The Monitor My Health test is done by an NHS lab at Exeter hospital and it's the one I use when I want just a basic thyroid test.
The fingerprick test kit includes a tiny microtainer which requires 0.6ml of blood (less than 1/5th of a teaspoon). All private labs use microtainers for fingerprick tests. You would need to purchase the venous blood sample collection option from another testing company to get the larger vial and vacutainer kit.
If your nurse thinks she can do a venous blood draw with a needle then decant into the microtainer then it should be OK and you could use Monitor My Health (they only do fingerprick version of test). It wouldn't be possible to use the microtainer with the vacutainer method of blood collection.
Thank you very much for your reply. I cannot believe that people have to go through this just because they need a T3 test. It’s utterly shocking that the NHS won’t do it. How many drops of blood would you say it is that’s needed? And does it make a difference to the sample to squeeze it out?
Once I have that info, I can decide. It would be much easier to be able to do it myself. It would be far quicker too. I’ll have to wait at least two weeks for my surgery.
How many drops of blood would you say it is that’s needed?
That depends. Some people find fingerprick tests easy, some find them almost impossible. I find them easy and did one with MMH yesterday. I have some tips which I will post below which may help you decide.
Yesterday I needed 20 drops of blood to obtain the required 0.6ml. Occasionally the lancet has given a better "cut" (for want of a better word) and I have bigger drops of blood flow and filled the tube with 10 drops.
And does it make a difference to the sample to squeeze it out?
You must not squeeze, see below.
TIPS FOR DOING FINGERPRICK TEST
* 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. Middle finger seems to be best for me, if flow stops I then go on to ring finger.
* 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
* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.
* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.
Wow! Thank you so much for all of your tips. I think I will give it a go and hope it can do it. I can always cut it a bit (very gently) with a knife if necessary to get the blood coming out. I will drink loads the day before and before the test. I will have a shower and then do it as soon as I come out. The whole covid anti body test was a disaster. The blood didn't come and what did come all thickened up! I sent it but it didn't get analysed because there wasn't enough.
Your tips are amazing. I will order the test and do it on Monday morning and post if off straight away - before the 9am pick up.
I hope it will work. I will lance all my fingers if necessary to get the drops.
Is it okay to drink lots of water during the night and the morning of my test?
I have been off my B Complex for a week because of my test this morning.
Thank you so much again. Fingers crossed I can get enough blood!!
The blood didn't come and what did come all thickened up!
Maybe you're just one of those people who has thicker blood.
Is it okay to drink lots of water during the night and the morning of my test?
I'm not sure I'd be wanting to disturb my sleep by waking to drink some water. Obviously if you wake naturally then have some but certainly drink plenty the day before and drink some before the test.
Maybe I do have thicker blood! I always wake in the night so will have water ready for when I do.
I am going to make sure it works!
I have just ordered it. Hopefully it will come on Friday, ready for monday. I am right in thinking I should not post it on a Friday (if it were to come tomorrow)?
Advice is to post only on a Monday or Tuesday. Any delay in getting to the lab means sample might be spoiled. Posting later in the week with standard post might result in a delay in delivery and if the blood sample hangs around over the weekend it may very well be unusable.
The MMH kit contains a Business Reply return envelope. Please be aware that this does not guarantee next day delivery. I always take it to the Post Office counter and use Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm which gives you a tracking number on the receipt which can be checked on RM's website. The Post Office reduce the cost of this service by the cost of the Business Reply return charge (reduction of £1.45). They only do this for Business Reply return envelopes, any other post paid return envelope such as Tracked 24 (used by Medichecks and Blue Horizon) does not qualify for the reduction.
I have, once, in the past used the Business Reply envelope posted in a priority post box and it took 2 days to arrive so I always use Special Delivery to ensure my sample gets there ASAP.
I posted one off yesterday, Special Delivery pick up by the post van at my local Post Office is 4.30pm, I've just checked on RM's tracking page and it was delivered at 07.22 this morning. I expect to receive an email tomorrow saying the results are ready, occasionally they may be ready the day the sample is received.
Good luck with doing your sample, I hope your blood flows well 😊
I posted one to MMH on Monday and they emailed me the results at 8pm Tuesday. I follow SeasideSusie's advice re twisting the lancet slightly and have had no problems getting enough out, since.Good luck.
Can I ask how you prepare for it and do it? Do you struggle to get the blood? Thank you and I’m sorry for the questions. What could I do if the blood doesn’t come?
“Our test kit is designed for convenience at home so that you don't need a Phlebotomist; it is a simple finger prick and with a couple of millilitres of blood, we can produce the result of your chosen tests”
So it suggests they don’t offer it as on option?
The blood has to be dripped into vial? nurse likely wouldn’t be prepared to syringe into tube but you can ask .
Doing so would have to be quite carefully as it might damage the sample. You would have to ask both MMH & nurse so see what can / should be done.
Other companies such as Medichecks give a phlebotomist option for a draw. To arrange yourself or for a nurse to visit home.
I don’t think MMH offers anything else. It would be much easier to do it at home. When I tried doing the covid anti body test I managed to get three drops. But maybe I didn’t drink enough. I drank a lot but perhaps not enough. I’d far rather do it at home because it will be much quicker. I don’t think the nurse would do it into a tube so I’d need the kit. The problem is it will be at least two weeks before I could have a test.
It’s unbelievable we have to go through this for something that’s actually essential.
Thank you! That does help a lot. I feel nervous after the last disaster when I tried to get blood at home. I will see if my daughter (12) can help as I am on my own just now.
I will drink loads and have a really hot shower before I do it.
I will do the windmill arms as well - anything to help.
Thank you SlowDragon. I am going to call the GP so I can speak to her about all of this. I will ask for the vitamin and folate tests. I will also ask about the Hughes Syndrome. I have never heard of it so will look it up and read about it. How would I know I might have it? Thank you again.
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