Drawing blood for Thyroid test ?

[Yorkshireman356]

Tried to get 3 drops for the mini test tube, but was impossible 😪 squeezed as much as I could, so how much do they actually need cos there's not a lot !!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

should be filled up to between 2 lines on test tube …usually 8-12 drops of blood

and don’t squeeze as it breaks blood cells

Send it off anyway - they might get something tested

They can send another kit free

Who’s the kit from

If it’s Medichecks or Blue horizon consider asking for different kit for private blood draw at local to you clinic or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

If it’s Monitor Your Health

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

Read carefully

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SlowDragon]

Lucky if I got 2 drops !!! Used all of the pipettes they sent. Must have sticky blood 🙄

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Yorkshireman356]

Used all of the pipettes they sent.

Do you mean lancets? I don't know of any testing company that uses pipettes.

Did you use Blue Horizon in the end?

My tips for doing fingerprick tests:

* 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 the best place to prick is on the side of the finger where the nail changes colour from pink to the white 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

Video showing how to do a fingerprick test:

youtube.com/watch?v=w2JzToZ...(Not working as expected?)

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Well my meagre offering has been sent now, so just have to see what they say

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yorkshireman356]

Sounds like you need to pay extra for private blood draw

Some thyroid patients do have APS - also called sticky blood

nhs.uk/conditions/antiphosp...

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

You might be better off restarting this test. Squeezing is not a good idea as it damages the blood cells.

Follow the tips that SeasideSusie has given you and you will probably find it much easier.