As quite rightly suggested by a few members when I mentioned this in my other post, I'm starting a new post just for this issue separately.
Please could I ask people's personal experiences with blood testing companies such as Medichecks, Blue Horizon or any others, whether good or bad, how you've found their customer service, promptness, reporting, whether you've opted for at home finger prick (did you manage to draw enough blood/was it rejected?), or venous with nurse (did you manage to book appt ok/all within time limits etc?). Was your GP supportive of the test results, or dismissive? How often do you tend to get them done, and do you find this is more for your own benefit than the medical profession's?
Any personal tips/recommendations gratefully received. I know I shouldn't have, but I looked at Trust Pilot reviews and then wished I hadn't 🙁!!!
Thank you to those who already responded with their experiences on the other thread, it will all be taken into consideration 🙂
Also, has anyone seen a private GP for a one-off appointment just in an effort to have them request relevant thyroid blood work that their NHS GP is reluctant to do (not even sure if it's possible to do this, but thought I'd see if anyone has!)??
Thank you lovely folk 🙂
Written by
TrainWreck59
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TrainWreck59, different testing companies typically offer different tests and combination test packages. If you say what things you're particularly wanting to test, members can tailor their replies according to the experiences they've had with those particular tests.
I have only used Medichecks. The first time I used them I went for the do it at home yourself service, what a mistake!
5 v sore fingers and all I got was a teeny amount of blood.
Easy to post off and results within a few days, with a doctors report if required.
I have used them a few more times over the last 2 years and book in with Super drug and use their nurse service to draw blood- a little more expense, but I think worth it.
I've only ever used Medichecks, ~ every 6 months, pay extra for nurse to take the blood, consequently nothing has ever been rejected. GP was actually reasonably interested at the results, was impressed with my Vit D, obviously was only interested in TSH as expected. I think it's a good service. I get the Ultimate service as interested in other non-Thyroid related measures, so it does work out quite pricey unfortunately
I have found medichecks good .You need to do a little exercise first , then put your hand is hot water first , this helps the blood flow , so you can collect enough. Quick turnaround and a free overview of your blood test by one of the GPs
I have mainly used Medichecks. The doctor’s comments on one occasion wrongly interpreted the thyroid test results. Fortunately I knew enough to spot this. I queried the doctor’s comments. Medichecks we’re very responsive.,The comments were corrected and I was sent a replacement test to redo as peace of mind that I was getting accurate results. So I found their customer service very good.
I recently tried Blue Horizon in order to get a magnesium and cortisol test included, but I think I will go back to Medichecks as their doctors’ comments are much more detailed and the tests are generally cheaper.
I use finger prick blood collection. I’ve had most success doing this after going for a 4 mile walk first thing, then soaking my hand in hot water. Without doing this it will take lots of jumping up and down, a burst of walking on the treadmill and 3 different fingers to draw enough blood. The kitchen usually ends up looking like a crime scene - shaky hands mean I keep missing the vial 😂. Hope this is helpful.
I've used medichecks several times for thyroid tests and vitamins. I always have trouble using the finger prick at home tests - I now make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day before and drink hot water first thing in the morning so that I'm well hydrated (this makes a massive difference), maybe have a hot bath and do star jumps etc if you suffer from cold hands. I also have quite shaky hands so it can be tricky to get the blood droplet in the tiny tube rather than it flying off onto the kitchen table. Despite this I've never had a sample rejected by medichecks. It's difficult to find someone to do a private blood draw near me but it's worth it when I can. I usually end up with three or four sore finger tips after the at home test and this is annoying especially as I play the piano
I've always found the service quick (I make sure to do the test in the early part of the week so it doesn't arrive at the lab just before the weekend). I don't think their analysis of the results is particularly good but I'm not doing it for that - I usually post results on here and get better information. My gp never wants to engage with the results at all.
Used all of Medichecks, Blue Horizon, Genova, Thriva and Randox for thyroid, vits, sex hormones, cortisol, genetics etc.
Always tick the no doctors comment box as it means the results are faster and the ignorance on the responses initially offended me. Maybe better now?
I seem to need far to much testing at the moment ( trying to sort cortisol problem). I get no g.p. help and gave up on them when they could only get lab to do TSH even if they asked. For t3/4. G.p. also useless for sex hormones so have to pay private consultant and get blood taken at the The Doctors Laboratory in London for that.
All testers seem good for various things, depends what you want to test at the time as to whether they have a cost effective offering.
Randox is cheapest at the mo for basic tests, seem fine and they offer a Tasso device so you don't need to finger prick if that is a consideration, but can have slow customer support.
MMH ok, in NHS lab, well priced, and used to have a very limited test range, but have introduced a lot more now so maybe more usable. I don't think the NHS label makes them any better though.
Medichecks fine with reasonably large range of tests, seemed to have unsympathetic customer service a year or 2 ago (not sure now).
BH good range of tests, can be a bit more expensive, but maybe more helpful customer service, worth it - depends what you are testing? BH do a genetic thyroid test too which may help explain if T4 does not work for you.
Thriva have a package deal where you sign up for regular testing and a couple of years ago stopped selling anything else, so I stopped using them. I think maybe now you can test only what you need again?
Genova do saliva cortisol with DHEA, more cheaply than some but it is slow as they send the samples to USA.
Superdrug offer private blood sample collection for £40, but cheaper if you go through BH or Medichecks who use them ( with others).
Never used the at home nurse phlebotomy offering.
I am a cheapskate so resent paying for nurse to take blood when I can do it myself. That being said sometimes the blood comes easier than others, and its not always obvious why. As Tiggey said there are things that help: lots to drink, warm bath, exercises etc.
I have had problems with duff Oestrogen results, I assume there were gel residues on my hands despite applying with gloves, so I do use the blood draw nurse for that.
Occasionally, if you are having a day when it is like drawing blood from a stone, the sample can haemolyse and one of the vitamin tests wont work ( folate I think), even if the other tests are fine. Worth trying again later/ another day rather than just sticking with a poor sample if folate is important - you can tell the blood looks sticky and clotty and you probably needed to jab lots of fingers.
Hi I’ve only used Medichecks & boy did it hurt! But the results were very similar to my NHS ones. I found them accurate & reasonably priced. My GP isn’t interested though saying they are not reliable 🤷🏻♀️
I would say as a general point it is accepted amongst the informed that finger prick tests are less accurate, I never use them, a proper blood draw is superior
A full fingerprick test from reputable companies that use reputable labs, done properly is just as valid as a venous blood draw nowadays. Many members have proven this by doing both types simultaneously and getting very similar results.
The fingerprick tests to steer well clear of are the ones where you just drip some blood onto something and get an immediate reading without sending to a lab. These are completely useless for thyroid testing. Like this one tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/p...
Self-test to detect the presence of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) in human whole blood as an indicator of an underactive thyroid.
In these days of ultra sensitive TSH testing, we see very few results which are "so low no value can be assigned" - so EVERYONE always has TSH in their bloodstream.
All these tests do is detect whether the TSH is above 5 (or thereabouts). Assuming they work as described when you look for the fine detail.
Giving you no idea whether you might just have a transient 5.1 for some reason, or over 100 and need to be treated for myxoedema coma.
Giving you no idea that you might not be hypothyroid, but hyperthyroid, and possibly seriously so.
Members might be pretty sure about the differences between hypothyroid and hyperthyroid but people who saw these for sale might not appreciate their extreme limitations.
If these tests did lower and upper ends of the TSH range, they'd be marginally more acceptable. As they are, I think they should be banned from sale.
I mean, do diabetics measure blood glucose as accurately as they can? Do they only care if they are over or under 11 mmol/L. And totally ignore whether their result could be 4 or lower indicating hypoglycaemia?
Maybe, any doc I discuss that with disagrees, I hade done the comparisons, I have hypogonadism since 2004 and and Polycythaemia since 2010 and have done more than 200 blood tests and tried all the options, personally I would always do a blood draw, the worst accuracy is from the dried blood samples. Everyone to their own of course.
I agree that full blood draw is the preferred option, if only because it's so much easier. But when the NHS insists you're fine and only need a thyroid test once a year, private testing is the only option we have.
Venous draw through private testing is unafordable for many, hence there's now a plethora of fingerprick test kits from very reputable companies. They are not 'dried blood' samples! They are liquid blood in little vials, which go to the same NHS labs as the GP surgeries use.
Yes I know the dried tests are not the same as the typical finger prick tests, I do agree if budget is a issue finger pricks at least will give some indication and it may be that they are fine for thyroid tests, I’m sure the admins on here have monitored it enough.
Unfortunately, many docs are way out of date in their ideas and knowledge. And many don't like that patients are able to take more control of their own health. But this is their problem, not ours 😊
TrainWreck59 I have used MediChecks for years and without exaggerating believe that one of their blood tests may well have saved my life this time last year. Customer service has always been good. Their own doctor's interpretation of results usually pretty good, certainly far better than I would get from my own GP or even NHS endo. Just occasionally the interpretation seems to be a copy-and-paste with the emphasis not where I would put it, but it's never been bad.
On all but one occasion, I have had blood drawn at local hospitals. Never had a problem doing it that way. The one occasion where I did have a problem was when I had them arrange for somebody to come to the house to do it. I don't know whether it has changed since then, but at that time they seemed to outsource to a third-party provider and the third-party clearly didn't monitor the abilities of the people that they used. The guy that turned up was clearly in poor health himself, had the shakes, and could not draw blood properly from some of the easiest veins you are ever likely to see. I ended up catching my own blood in my hand to avoid it end up on the carpet. I sent him away without doing a successful blood draw. Never again. I've been back to local hospitals to do the blood draws ever since. I haven't tried drawing my own blood from a finger prick as if done incorrectly it can cause problems with the sample - I'd rather pay that little bit extra and have a professional do it.
I've always used MMH, except for back in 2016 when I used Blue Horizon to check thyroid and antibody levels. This was pre hypo but showed my thyroid was flagging. I used Randox for sex hormones, wha a saga that was. I wouldnt use them again.
I've never used private tests for diagnosis reasons. I was already diagnosed so have no idea about whether my GP accepts them or not. As the NHS so often offers only TSH or FT4 if lucky I monitor my thyroid levels for personal reasons only. I dont share my results with GP. And now I'm on a stable dose I dont test that often. Every few months or even less.
I've never had any luck with finger prick tests, no matter how many times I've tried, despite all the tips I've seen. So I now use DIY phlebotomy. I'm totally unfazed by needles as I've been having regular blood tests since childhood. I find it more reliable, quicker and less painful than stabbing fingers.
I'm pretty happy with MMH, the turnaround is quick, usually 24-48 hours after they receive your sample. And they will send you out a replacement test free if you dont have enough blood in the test tube or its coagulated in the post.
I do always test on a Monday and send my sample via special delivery, ensuring next day delivery. Its more expensive but worth it imo.
I used Blue Horizon for my Thyroid test as my surgery/GP doesn't bother requesting bloods anymore unless you specifically request but then doesn't include T3 or vitamin levels. Blue Horizon were good but you have the option of a Dr reading your results and reporting, according to him I was the magical 'in range'. A scan f my Thyroid shortly after revealed my nodules had shrunk along with my Thyroid, result Thyroid Atrophied. 'In range?' Hospital test, only TSH & T4 ( not T3 as assuredly would be done when asked) significantly higher! So I've brought another test, as mentioned on Thyroid UK to be done in new year when post, this one is a Newfoundland test £9.99 from chemist so cheaper. My GP and Endo have been more than happy to upload these private results from Blue Horizon to my medical records, minus of course the letter stating I'm 'in range'. What was mentioned were my high cortisol levels and very high antibody levels.
I have always used Medichecks and intend to do so again in January. I must remember to request no doctors comment because they are completely unhelpful and I am quite capable of reading my own blood results I have had years of practice
Also I always get a nurse to draw my blood and even went to my local county hospital last time for my blood draw. The person who drew my blood used a different needle than the one supplied by Medichecks because she said it was too big. She then packed up the kit and handed it back to me. I then went to my local post office to post it. This all took place on a Monday so I avoided the weekend delay
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