A funny thing happened this morning....

[Kit_Monster]

I'd decided to do a full iron panel at home blood test before supplementing with anything.

I've done these types of tests before so should be at least competent at it now.

I'd read all the instructions, filled out all forms and got everything ready.

Fast forward an hour and my bathroom looked like a crime scene as I dropped the near full finger prick blood sample vial. I'd persisted and vampired more fingers and got it done. Cleaned up the bathroom, labelled the vial, posted it and had a cuppa. I then popped lots of plasters on my sore fingers.

I've just found the sample form that was meant to go in the envelope!!! Aaargh.

I thought I would share as I had to laugh or (I'd cry at the thought of having to do it all over again!

Anyone else have any home testing disasters?

[humanbean]

I always try and prepare as much as possible the night before if I can.

I can't remember for sure, but I think the JID (Job ID) for your order might be on a label on the vial as well as on the paperwork you should have included. If it is then your blood can still be identified.

Let Medichecks know as soon as possible, and hopefully they can deal with the problem.

This must happen occasionally to other people.

In the past I've had my husband stabbing my fingers with a scalpel I use for pill cutting. However I now have some spare lancets of the kind provided by testing companies because I'm not very good at getting blood out. The thing that makes the most difference for me is drinking plenty of water the day before plus another glass when I get up to do the test.

I hope it all works out for you.

[Kit_Monster in reply to humanbean]

Good idea humanbean.

I spoke with Medichecks today and they can send an electronic form over to the lab. Phew. I was not looking forwards to doing another one.

Eek to using a scalpel to stab your finger with. It sounds scary bit did it work? I've had to use all the lancets provided before and I'd rather just do it once and properly.

[humanbean in reply to Kit_Monster]

The scalpel "worked" in the sense that I got the blood I needed. But my fingers were sore for quite a few days afterwards. And I hope I never have to do it again! I think buying some extra lancets would be a good idea. Be aware that lancets aren't all the same size and don't all have the same purpose. But I don't know what kind are the best ones for finger-prick tests. Diabetic lancets apparently tend to create a very small hole and people might only get one drop of blood out, if that. So I can't say what kind are the best ones to get, but it would be worth doing the research before spending any money.

[Kit_Monster in reply to humanbean]

And a good tip to keep hydrated 👍

[eeng]

I go for a brisk walk/jog round the block these days before doing a blood test. Makes a big difference. I cycled a couple of miles to get to the blood donor centre once and that was the fastest I've ever managed to give blood! Normally my body is very stingy when it comes to blood, and wants to hold on to every last drop it can, so no crime scenes here.

[Kit_Monster in reply to eeng]

Good tip about a spot of exercise before hand. 👍