Private Blood Tests V Nhs Ones......

[Smowball]

6 months ago Mr Smow insisted on me doing some private blood tests as he swore they would be far more accurate (long story) so he paid to be sent this kit from www.thriva.co....full of everything you need and instructions to take your own bloods, send them back then get results. Well mine came back with apparently very concerning results for liver and kidneys. Also said my thyroid WASNT underactive even though I’m on thyroxine and every doctor test says it’s still underactive. Suggested re testing in 3 months.
Well Monday I developed severe abdominal pains to the point I ended up in A & E. They suspected inflamed gallbladder. Did every blood test known to mankind - all came back perfectly clear, including liver and kidneys perfect. Well Mr Smow isn’t having it - he says the hosp tests are wrong as NHS doesn’t have resources and the private ones he paid for are the correct ones. (I completely disagree with him btw)

So we had a second private kit here as they sent two - he’s insisted I do them again, as they’re paid for, which I just have, and will send off today. Sooooo if they come back saying the same as the first lot what am I meant to think??

[eve1974]

I’d trust the nhs ones...things such as blood tests need to be stored correctly etc ... so not sure how accurate it wld be after taking it yourself n sending back (post / courier etc)

[AuntPollyGrey]

Sorry smow but no-one can make you take a blood test not even your husband. If you don't want to do it tell him to do one. Seriously, thats intimidation.

Private blood tests bought on line are notoriously fake or wrong. If you want a private blood test book into a private hospital.

[Smowball]

I’m going to do them again purely because I want to see if they come back as before, and then I’ll contact them and say they’re completely different to our wonderful NHS ones, who by the way the staff were all fantastic with me. And see what they blooming say!!

[calmck]

When you have the NHS blood tests do they use a needle and take from a vein in your arm? Are the private ones done by pricking your finger? If the answers are yes I would think the NHS would be most accurate. Finger pricks are good when used for diabetic blood sugar levels when used with specific test kit. Heel pricks for baby PKU test strips are accurate as are finger pricks for haematocrict test. I do not know of prick tests for liver and kidney function etc. but could be wrong

[jennyjoan]

oh Smow - why waste your money, as somebody said - go to a private hospital and they will do the real macoy for your money.

[jakep]

Having spent my career as a Haematologist, I would say that your husband is talking nonsense. The same analysers and trained staff will be involved.
Also some private clinics use NHS laboratories.
Hope that helps!

[sherrardk]

I’m all for buying stuff online but I wouldn’t trust a private blood testing company where you have to take the blood yourself and send it through the post - sounds well iffy. (PS, I’d tell Mr Smow to do one, if he’s that concerned tell him to cough up for a private blood test at an actual medical facility.)

[Smowball]

Well I didn’t know he’d bought it till it turned up! I know he means well but I just don’t believe their results. And yes NHS were vein in arm, these are finger pricks. What’s concerning me most is they’re basically saying I shouldn’t be taking my thyroxine, and that I have organ problems that according to NHS I don’t have!

[jakep]

Accurate levels for kidney, liver, thyroid tests can NOT be obtained from a finger prick.

[barry1010]

Finger prick tests are not reliable for those type of blood tests. He has wasted his money, Smow, and caused unnecessary worry.

[dannyk13]

Have you googled the name of the private company?

[Smowball]

Yes it’s called Thriva. Reviews on site are excellent but I guess they would be lol

[LadyCG]

If NHS blood testing yielded inaccurate results, I'm sure it would have come to light before now.

Does your husband wear a tin hat?

[barry1010]

Blimey, £79 for a thyroid function test.

[Eve]

I just had a look on Trust Pilot in case there were reviews saying similar, does Mr Smow know it's apparently a subscription service? Seems it isn't very clear when people sign up and quite a few have been caught out, not realising this.

I'm with the NHS results. I hope you're feeling a lot better now. Gallbladder problems are horrible.

[Sqad]

No big deal.
Blood is almost certainly tested in NHS labs.
If accuracy was a problem,the company would be out of business.
Of course your thyroid test didn't show an underactive thyroid because you are on thyroxine.
What levels of thyroid hormones show underactivity whilst on thyroxine is often a matter of opinion.
Your husband spends his money on whatever he choices and in this case private blood tests.

[bednobs]

"If you want a private blood test book into a private hospital"
I see someone has already answered this point, but in my area, the private hospital uses the same lab as the NHS

[barry1010]

Sqad, you're right. Anyone can spend their own money exactly as the like but not to push blood tests on to somebody else, married or not.

[Sqad]

Barry..agreed.
I was addressing the point of efficacy between private and NHS.

[Smowball]

Anyway I trust the hospital results 100% - if I had any liver or kidney issues am pretty sure they would have found them as they did the whole lot of blood tests two days in a row, just to see if they changed overnight.