Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Health & Fitness => Topic started by: LindaG on 11 August, 2012, 06:15:14 pm

Title: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: LindaG on 11 August, 2012, 06:15:14 pm: I had bloods tests done this week - full blood count and serum ferritin. To try to find a reason why I'm as tired as a sleepy thing at the moment.

Just got a letter from the GP and they want them repeating in a month. I'll be wondering why all weekend now. Anyone have any idea what they might be looking for?
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: Paul on 11 August, 2012, 06:29:39 pm: Funny - very similar thing has happened (is still happening) to me. In my case, I think it's because one result shows inflammation, or something. It's not surprising, because I was under the weather when they did it. I think the retest in 4 weeks is to allow me to get over whatever it is, so the results aren't skewed by anything.
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 11 August, 2012, 06:38:46 pm: MRsCharly had exhaustion problems - they tested for B12 anf ferritin levels

Repeat in a month might be to see if it results are related to timing in your cycle. But a month's gap seems silly in that case. 2 weeks would be more sensible (unless they want to see if results are reproducable)
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: Paul on 11 August, 2012, 06:40:53 pm: New, underhand blood-donation technique?
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: hellymedic on 11 August, 2012, 07:33:49 pm: Probably borderline abnormal/normal result.
Want repeat after an interval to determine if you'd benefit from eg iron therapy.

If you had *really* low ferritin, they'd put you on iron and maybe investigate for iron deficiency. If your ferritin is low*ish*, they may want to see if if it's stable or changing.

I wouldn't worry; if your results were seriously abnormal, they would act.

Some lab results can be completely out of line with what is expected for a patient. When that's the case, repeats are usually requested immediately.
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: Tewdric on 11 August, 2012, 07:41:50 pm: Maybe they lost it?
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: hellymedic on 11 August, 2012, 07:58:09 pm: Quote from: Tewdric on 11 August, 2012, 07:41:50 pm
Maybe they lost it?

If they'd lost it, I would hope they'd come clean, explain the loss and request a repeat as soon as conveniently possible.
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: Canardly on 11 August, 2012, 08:09:30 pm: Secret black pudding sales to rescue NHS? or looking for trends/correlations in your analysis?
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: LindaG on 12 August, 2012, 09:06:45 am: Ah. (Most of) those answers make sense.

Thanks chaps :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Repeat blood tests - Why?
Post by: fred the great on 12 August, 2012, 02:48:20 pm: If you are on a prescription repeat blood tests are often taken to check for any improvements in the results. Quite normal procedure.