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Bogart99

Active Member
Messages
41
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Am having latest of a few HbA1c tests tomorrow at GP surgery so thought I would buy an independant one from a lab as a comparison.
Get the test started using it then decided not a chance in collecting the amount of blood they need. Given 3 finger prick lancets and expected to half fill a vial.
Would be here to Christmas at that rate so have binned it. I think I would need to get a stanley knife out to collect enough!
 
I did one years ago (well, an insulin resistance test) and arranged with my local surgery for them to draw the blood.

I agree that trying to draw the blood from a finger looks an unattractive option.
I don't bleed easily from my fingers so blood glucose testing isn't fun.
Fortunately my Abbott meter seems to manage with relatively little.

Is there a way to get a phlebotomist to draw a sample?

Have you thought of asking the GP surgery to draw an extra vial when you have your HbA1c?
Minimum extra effort for them and you would get a true comparison with two samples taken at the same blood draw.
 
Bogart99 said:
Given 3 finger prick lancets and expected to half fill a vial.
Click to expand...

Are these the same size/depth as the finger pricks lancets we are all familiar with? I always assumed they were deeper to allow the blood to flow.

I used to sometimes have problems getting enough blood for the first reader I was given, so can't imagine what it would be like to fill a half of vial. Thankfully I don't have to do finger pricks very often and the libre reader I use now manages on a much smaller sample.
 
Yes the lancets look the same. It draws as much blood as does my normal finger prick one. I get a droplet using that so not really surprised same with this test. I would have had a hand like a pincushion to get enough.
As LittleGreyCat says if I was to do another independant one I would get GP nurse to do it.
 
Had a reply back from the supplier

First, you need to drink plenty of water 1-2 hours before the test. Have a warm shower and exercise gently as this will promote blood flow. Stay standing while collecting blood and do not sit, as sitting might not help the blood flow. Keep your arm extended to help blood flow.

mod edit to conform with rules
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Just throwing in an update. As I have said before I am/was more than a little concerned about the amount of misinformation that one can glean from NHS sources, including my GP surgery. I have at times felt we should have swapped seats when having a consultation. Did mention that I had been dragged over the coals as I was deemed pre diabetic and approaching the diabetic figure. So I started a strict regime of being more careful as to my intake of food and drink. I suppose I was lucky that my surgery were happy for me to have an HbA1c test as it turned out every 6 weeks. My HbA1c reading has dropped off the edge of the cliff. Last 3 readings 34, 36 and 36. So it proves one can turn figures around without a life changing scenario. Am still eating pasta, bread potatoes but in much reduced amounts and chocolate has gone out of the window. So it can be done.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christams and Happy New Year
 
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