[Closed] DIY blood tests

I'd say no.

Just because the potential for error is high, and the additional information that they get when testing the blood may be important.

Plus, if it comes up with a problem, you'll go and get it done properly anyway, only you'll be worried. If you find out she is anaemic, you'll not want to be treating it at home either.

...and on a slightly cheekier note, I wouldn't want anyone who struggles to buy shoes testing me.. 😉

it wont harm to have it as an indication.

but would end up going docs what ever the result

you need someone with experince within blood testing to tell you if its worth the money for the accuracy. if its pretty accurate then its a good idear.

Well we've been to the docs several times, and her instructions are to take the pills when she feels like she has low iron, or around that time of the month if it's heavy.

The thing is, she might be knackered from disturbed sleep (we have young kids), she might be knackered from low iron, or it might be some other problem. So if she starts chugging the iron pills it might do more harm than good.

If she could do a home test and found low levels, it'd remove some of the questions and help to ensure she was taking the pills at the right time.

I'm thinking it would be a useful thing to do alongside the doc visits, not instead of.

molgrips - has mrsmolgrips tried any other type of iron supplement? I'm afraid that us ladies can very often have a problem with iron so I've always had to supplement. Interestingly enough I did try out a cheaper supplement, it had no effect, so have gone back to my usual Floradix liquid iron.

As regards home testing, have just recently had my vit D tested by this method. Bet crikey doesn't approve! 😉

molgrips - has mrsmolgrips tried any other type of iron supplement?

We've tried ferrous sulfate, something called fumarate, and bovine tissue supplementation (aka big juicy steaks). The fumarate brought levels (not sure of what - ferritin I think) up from 2 to 14 when taken with megadose vit-c pills without many side effects, but 14 is still pretty crappy.

She doesn't really like taking them though and often wanders. A home test could provide some impetus.

My problem with it is that you are thinking in very straight lines and taking iron supplements on the strength of an unvalidated over the counter test.

I wouldn't.

C-G, I recommend covering yourself in margarine and sitting out in the sun, both of which should give the levels a boost. Even more so if you lick as much marge off as you can. 🙂

I've been taking this every day for around 20 years, with vit C. My levels have always been borderline and many gynae problems as well:

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/floradix-liquid-iron-formula_1_37646.html

In addition I try to eat liver fortnightly as well as red meat several times a week.

Any supplement will take quite a while to get into the system and has to be taken regularly.

But it's miserable when you're exhausted and young kids are hard work! Well done for trying to help. 🙂

My problem with it is that you are thinking in very straight lines and taking iron supplements on the strength of an unvalidated over the counter test

No, we'd be taking them according to the doctor's instructions, backed up by a test. That is, if the tests turn out to be worth anything of course. Hence the question.

He said to take the pills 'if you feel your iron is low'. I'm thinking a test may be more reliable than just feeling tired, when there are many other reasons to feel tired.

However it's not looking like the tests are accurate enough to be of any use....?

Lol @ crikey. 😀

Blood tests are being rationed so may be worth checking on how frequently these can be done for mrsmolgrips.

Go by symptoms, rather than tests. I am medically unqualified. 🙂

Home iron tests (as at winter 2010) were not considered of any use in managing anaemia.
There are many types of anaemia and all have varying indicators with respect to lab tests, a chem path lab will measure all of these and not just serum iron levels.
If you are supplementing, you will also need to ensure you are taking VitB12, Folic Acid and Vit C as well as Iron - or ensure that your diet contains food items rich in these....

Im a fully grown up male and sufferd from iron deficency anaemia, the symptoms are a killing headache, tiredness, falling asleep easily in the chair, being seriously out of breath,and white bits under your finger nails along with aches and pains.

Eat plenty of fruit, and greens along with veg, iron tablets make you constipated,but liquid iron suplements are available from health food shops.

[b]crikey[/b] an unvalidated over the counter test.

any over the counter test on the UK market should be CE marked and have undergone pretty extensive validation. Whether it is appropriate to your needs may be a different question.

[b]molgrips[/b][b][/b]He said to take the pills 'if you feel your iron is low'. I'm thinking a test may be more reliable than just feeling tired, when there are many other reasons to feel tired.

IANAD but would suggest if this is a regular, cyclical issue then waiting until you show symptoms is probably too late - from my recollections it takes a couple of weeks of regular iron tablet usage to start seeing a positive effect, on both blood levels and symptoms.

Can I suggest that a second opinion from another doctor wouldn't be out of order either! My better half was moderately anaemic for several years, severely anaemic following giving birth (even a month or two later she was being considered for transfusion) and was basically given similar generic - well you're a woman type advice - and eat healthier (even though she was). Largely by chance she was diagnosed with coeliac disease and now that this is managed, she is now able to absorb all the right nutrients properly. I'm not suggesting that this is the case in your wife's case - but I would be inclined to question if there is some other underlying cause other than simply being a woman.

In terms of the tests themselves, there is a fascinating disparity between our (and our medical professionals') attitude to home testing from many other parts of the world. In the UK we are still heavily reliant on clinical laboratory testing when home or 'doctors office' testing is more common for faster results elsewhere - either because the patient is paying or doctor has potential to increase his revenue! However a quick look suggests you are looking at £15-20 per test. On the one hand that is not much if it solves your wife's problems and is once a month but its a lot every week just to tell her something her symptoms probably already suggest. Secondly the test I found were simply "low" / "normal" results - which won't tell you much; especially if you are looking at spotting a 'trend' as an early warning.

her instructions are to take the pills when she feels like she has low iron,

I was under the impression (from having an anaemic ex a while back) that you had to build up iron levels over time. You can't just go "oh, I'm feeling a little unferroused today" and pop a pill, you need to be getting dietary iron over days or weeks to recover from a deficit.

ObDisclaimer, I am not a doctor.

Largely by chance she was diagnosed with coeliac disease and now that this is managed

I was tested for coeliac disease after 6 months of iron tablets had only lifted my ferritin levels to 12, so some doctor's do look into things further.

Well she was on pills for a while, and once we figured out the vitamin C thing iron levels recovered to very low normal levels. The ongoing instructions then were as I've stated.

We had a thyroid function test, but I think after the latest problems we'll have to go back.

Coeliac disease is a possibility, except we've been largely gluten free for ages due to idieting.