Where can I get my mineral levels tested?

[FancyPants54]

I test bloods, including vitamins and iron, regularly. But I have no idea what my zinc and magnesium etc. levels are. Is there a home test kit I can use that doesn't cost the earth?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I found this one the other day which have to say I'm tempted by myself if I could just get over the mental trauma of doing a finger prick test. medicinesonline.org.uk/prod...

Apparently magnesium levels are not necessarily a good guide due to much being stored in tissues.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Jaydee1507]

You can do it!

Put your big girls pants on. The only bit that stings is the punch and it really doesn't sting much at all. I always use my ring finger and make the punch to the side of the top. I once did it central and nothing came out so I had to do it again!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to FancyPants54]

It's not even so much the finger prick itself although thats not pleasant. If I hadn't failed at a finger prick test some years ago now I would probably already be recovered. I was so unwell and incapable that when I couldn't get enough blood out I just put it to one side and pretty much forgot about it. Didn't have the wherewithall to contact Medichecks and get things reissued or try for a blood draw. I do need to get back on the horse though having fallen off!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Jaydee1507]

I saw this while browsing the dreaded online Daily Mail and thought this is just what we need to do to be sure we get the blood moving for home finger prick blood tests. Although to be honest I’ve usually got the opposite problem and my bathroom can end up with blood dripping all over the place.

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Ooh, I just watched a utube video on it and that looks like it might work for finger prick prep. Might give it a go. 😉

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Jaydee1507]

It’s simple looking but very energetic isn’t it - the YouTube guy suggests doing 1000 at a time or I think it was ten minutes - I did it for a minute or so and stopped, it looks easy but I think that is deceptive if you do it for the full time I’m sure it would make you pretty fit. I’m going to work 9n it and try and build up. If we were watching the same YouTube I was fascinated by the guy’s feet.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I watched a shorter one with I think a lady. It is quite energetic. Think I'd have to build up to doing it for any length of time!

youtube.com/watch?v=EfXWzqj...(Not working as expected?)

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Jaydee1507]

This is the guy I watched - haven’t looked at the one you’ve posted yet but it’s probably similar - I was just fascinated by his what looked to be very mobile feet 😉

youtube.com/watch?v=knx3w8I...(Not working as expected?)

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

That one looks better and is simpler with no breathing stuff. I just tried it and couldn't get the timing right for the knee bends. 😆 Should work though.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I saw this test mentioned a few days ago

medicinesonline.org.uk/prod...

It tests copper as well as zinc which is important.

I know Cerascreen do one that covers magnesium, selenium zinc, but no copper.

Anyway, I did the Cerascreen one a couple of years ago. The magnesium test is serum which really isn't helpful, about 99% of magnesium is stored in bone, muscles and soft tissues, leaving about 1% in the blood. So testing what's in the blood isn't giving an accurate picture of our magnesium status. A red cell magnesium test is said to be the better indicator of magnesium status, not the standard serum magnesium test. The red cell test is expensive and requires phlebotomy which is why it's not included in these bundles.

It was, however, useful for the selenium and zinc levels.

It's a fingrprick test but it did take 2-3 weeks to receive the results, the sample is sent to them in the UK then they send it on to Germany for testing.

[FancyPants54 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, both you and Jaydee1507 have linked to the same test so I'll give that a whirl. I don't really mind about magnesium, I'm happy to take and bath in that anyway. But I would like to know some of the others which are important but sort of invisible via the NHS etc.

Thanks for the heads up on the timing.

[Ari3 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I did this test with carescreen and I got results within a week

[Star13]

there is this one from Get tested for £69

gettested.co.uk/product/min...

[TiggerMe]

I sent a message to my GP yesterday saying that my dentist had suggested I get my zinc tested (fib) and hey presto this morning I have a message to say make an appointment with the nurse 🤗... in 3 weeks time

So if you aren't in a rush...