Private Thyroid Blood Test

[denise5853]

I want to get a private Thyroid Blood test done, can anyone recommend where I can get one done, I live in Cumbria.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

denise5853

We have recommended private labs, details of discount codes and links here:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Most popular are Blue Horizon and Medichecks who both offer home fingerprick tests or choice of phlebotomy at clinics or hospital, or Monitor My Health which is an NHS lab at Exeter hospital but only offers fingerprick tests.

[denise5853 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the info, I'm getting a Medichecks test.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to denise5853]

denise5853

This is the advice we always give when doing thyroid tests:

* 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 3-7 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.

[TorcHouse]

I'm in East Yorkshire, well away from anywhere, and I can recommend Medichecks, especially its Advance Thyroid Function Test which gives the full panel, both antibodies, and the main vitamins & minerals. Its website gives masses of explanatory info, its instructions are clear, and everything you need for a finger-prick test is in the box. Results are very fast. See the ThyroidUK site for a discount code.

[denise5853 in reply to TorcHouse]

Thanks for the info, I'm getting one of these tests.