Finger Prick Test

[Sasah]

Before i order one do ypu get enough blood. Worried I am gonna order one and i am gonna bodge it up and waste money i cannae afford....

[Obsdian]

You get three lancets. For me it's about finding the best spot and always pricking there. Even if it stops short I reprick right next instead of another spot.

[Sasah in reply to Obsdian]

Do tou always get enough blood to fill a vile? X

[Obsdian in reply to Sasah]

For one vial yes. When I have done others with two I've not always managed.

[Sasah in reply to Obsdian]

So is tgatba waste of money! Why don't theybsend mor ethan one pricker!

[Obsdian in reply to Sasah]

They send 3. I also keep any unused ones for yhe future.

[Sasah in reply to Obsdian]

I meant for 2 viles 😃 which company do you use/ recomend please?

[Obsdian in reply to Sasah]

Weirdly I still get 3 lancets for 2 vials.

I personally like medichecks but monitor my heakth is equally popular.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

even if you fail to get enough blood to first line (usually about 8-10 drops) post it off anyway

If it’s a disaster they send another

ALWAYS only do test Monday or Tuesday morning

Read all instructions first

Drink plenty of water in 24 hours before test

Exercise well for 10-15 mins before test

Test between 6-9am

Put hand in hot water to warm up

Stand up to do test

Allow plenty of time

Post kit back immediately

[Astrido in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, this is helpful, I have same question as OP. Never been able to get enough out previously but this was with Thriva before I knew about thyroid. Would love to stop having to go to nurse every 3m (no offence to the fantastic nurses, it's just a palaver to get to my nearest clinic). I might give it another go based on your instructions.

(Edit : grammar)

[Sleepman]

I struggled but a few extra tips on top of slowdragons points that help me. Now ok with it.

Use dominant hand. Just learned this

Swing arm around in big loop a few times

Pinch LIGHTLY end of finger so it " plumps up" while stabbing.

Folate is hard as if bloods cells squashed it fails.

Randox on amazon do thyroid plus 2 antibodies for decent price. MMH good for me as well.

[Beads]

Driving past a local (not local enough to walk back though) chemist yesterday I saw signs in their window saying blood tests done there. One on the list was ‘thyroid vitamin and hormones’.

This was Caterham, Surrey. Obviously not useful if you’re not local, but if you’re worried about getting enough blood then maybe a local pharmacy near you might do similar.

Back to the fingerprick blood test. As everyone say, it’s a matter of getting the right spot; the difference between squeezing out individual drops and the place looking like a murder scene.

[Oatsforlife]

I did my first advanced thyroid with Medicheck and found it tricky. I used all 3 lancets to fill the bottle. My folate failed. I have the added problem of rural postboxes, I wish I’d factored that in!

I know that some people choose to have blood drawn as they find it difficult and/or have a failed folate result. Unfortunately, that’ll include me next time.

Good luck x

[arTistapple]

Ask for extra lancets when you order the test. Carefully read the instructions - they really do help. Familiarise yourself with them. Know the order etc. Take your time.

[Lowbattery]

I used MMH who were efficient but my first attempt failed, not enough blood, and they sent another kit FOC. Second attempt managed to fill vials but they were unable to do vitamins due to degradation of blood and I wasn't totally convinced about an unexpected very high FT4 as my levo has been drastically reduced. Personally, for my next test I'll go for a blood draw just to be more confident about results. However, I'm sure the finger pricks work for some - as already suggested make sure you're well hydrated, do some arm swings to get blood moving and make sure blood drips into vial and isn't pressed against side of vial. Good luck.

[Sasah in reply to Lowbattery]

Do they email results...?

[Lowbattery in reply to Sasah]

Yes they do - email you a link to your results.

[BenLabrador]

My problem is that I need to be fully hydrated in order to get a good blood flow. I therefore have to wait until later in the morning. It is not ideal or as recommended here but when I commented before someone kindly said it would be OK if I always tested at about the same time. If you can get a good sample before 9.00am then do not wait. I forced a sample early in the morning and Monitor My Health could not test it as it had degraded. They did however send me a replacement kit.

[DubStar]

Hi, I bodged my first one up. But got some advice from a nurse and all good since. Now I get plenty of blood out! Drink a big glass of water half an hour before the test. Do a bit of exercise/shake your arms. Put hands in very hot water, on a hot water bottle or hot radiator. Massage the finger. There's Medichecks YouTube vids. This all gets the blood flowing. I got some lancets on ebay to practice with before I tested again because like you, I didn't want to bodge again. Good luck!

[Ukie in reply to DubStar]

Just to say it’s important to follow all recommendations here. Also I’ve found hold your arm downwards when catching the drips. Good luck.

[Otto11]

I thought the same as you & panicked at the amount they required but the needle was so sharp I managed to get plenty out. As others have said drink water & keep your hands/arms warm. The instructions guide you on massaging the finger you use too. Good luck

[AKatieD]

Loads to drink first and being relaxed seems to help too

[Alilev]

I always get up early and go for a reasonably long, brisk walk first then follow the instructions- soaking hand, arm circles etc and get enough blood at the first attempt. Without the walk it takes me 3 fingers to fill the vial.

[humanbean]

I found one of the most helpful things I can do is to drink a lot of water throughout the day before I need the blood, then also drink water on the day I need the blood.

I also do all the other things people have suggested - arm swinging, a little bit of exercise (a few jumps on the spot plus going up and down stairs) but not so much I make myself feel awful and breathless.

Edit : Also - put hand in hot water first until your hand is red, and don't squeeze your finger hard - try to milk it gently from the base of the finger upwards.

You don't want the blood to degrade before it reaches the testing company. Take the blood to a post office and if you want to be completely certain the blood is kept in as good a condition as possible you could pay for this :

royalmail.com/sending/uk/sp...

making sure to take the package there an hour or two before last collection from the post office.

You don't want the blood to get hot in a post box, nor do you want it to arrive late in the week or at the weekend, you want it tested ASAP after arrival, which is why we suggest taking the blood on a Monday or Tuesday, so it gets to the lab quite promptly and will be tested before the end of the week.