Lab Recommendation U.K.

[Sami-M]

May I request guidance on recommended private labs in the U.K. for thyroid panel testing and others. Just arrived in the U.K. it’s cold 🥶!

We will be back and forth between Middle East & U.K. and would welcome feedback on getting just basic FT3 FT4 TSH and others too.

I’m currently taking 150 mcg Levo & 25mcg T3 (split morning & 5pm). Please update on any changes I need to make as this is my first test since starting T3.

Thanking you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sami-M

We have a few recommended labs, the most popular are

Monitor My Health, Medichecks, Blue Horizon.

For basic TSH, FT4 and FT3 only then Monitor My Health is cheapest, it is an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public but can only be done by fingerprick.

Thyroid test: monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

If you want a full thyroid/vitamin panel then this one is offered by Monitor My Health (again the cheapest and again can only be done by fingerprick)

Full Health Screen: monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

Discount code here: thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Medichecks and Blue Horizon offer the same basic test which can be done by fingerprick or you can arrange venous blood draw at extra cost. They also offer the basic test plus antibodies. They also offer the full thyroid/vitamin panel.

Medichecks thyroid tests: medichecks.com/collections/...

Discount code here: thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Blue Horizon thyroid tests: bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Don't bother with the Platinum test, it's not worth testing Reverse T3.

Discount code here: thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

**

When testing we advise the following:

* 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.

In fact, 9am is the perfect time, see first graph here, it shows TSH is highest around midnight - 4am (when we can't get a blood draw), then lowers, next high is at 9am then lowers before it starts it's climb again about 9pm:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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.

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test - 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. Certain foods 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, split dose and 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 phlebotomists or doctors.

[Sami-M in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie thank you ! xxx