Private thyroid testing in London

[Handsup]

I'm after a recommended private clinic which will do a full thyroid check in the London area - preferably not too expensive. Can anyone advise please?

[sanfairyanne]

blue horizon? they do fingerprick tests via post as well i think

[RockinD]

Genova Diagnostics or Blue Horizon.

If you check the ThyroidUK website, they might have more suggestions.

[QuintessentiallyQS]

Not the London Thyroid Clinic. I spoke to them over the phone, agree to send more information by email, they did not even bother getting back to me.

This consultant is brilliant:
www.parkside-hospital.co.uk/consultants/dr-mark-spring-/

[Handsup]

Thankyou all. Will I need a doctors referral?

[awaywego1]

I used blue hyroizon recently and got a full thyroid panel with a finger prick. There's a discount code on thyroiduk..no drs referral and I had the results within 48hrs.

[lisaloulou84]

I've been to GP this week and told her I have many of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid as stated by the NHS website and she agreed to test no problem. Why private?

[PoshPenny]

Because full thyroid panel when you pay privately for it is a lot more comprehensive than what the nhs fob you off with (and then when the results come back likely as not they will tell you they are "normal")

[EmmalinaC]

Watching this with interest as have had under active thyroid since DD1 was born in 2006 and have always had testing (full screening) on NHS. Never crossed my mind that I was being fobbed off although I know some GPs are not great at interpreting results!

[sanfairyanne]

you ideally need tsh, t4, t3 and antibodies testing
gp can sometimes just do tsh. depends on your area. it can be v misleading
my gp is great and also does t3 which is not part of the normal panel in our area
i still used private initially to keep an eye on levels

[Handsup]

My GP has & will only test for TSH. Unless the TSH is out of range he will not test the T3,4 etc. I'm aware other conditions can cause thyroid symptoms but mine are text book & all other tests are clear.
awaywego1 would you mind me asking how much you paid & did you have the full enchilada tested?

[NightFallsFast]

I'm a GP. Here in Australia I request T3, T4, TSH and antibodies, but in the UK the local lab would only test T3 and T4 if the TSH was abnormal or if the patient was on thyroid medication, even if the others were specifically requested.

[cartsmar]

Will DM you OP

[cartsmar]

Sorry PM - private message!

[Handsup]

Thanks cartsmar.

nightfallsfast I'm curious with your opinion as a GP if you feel the T3, T4 & antibody testing should be tested if the patient continues to have symptoms despite a normal TSH result?

[awaywego1]

I think I paid around 120 and had a full panel including both antibodies.

[annaomar]

When you get the results from rivate tests would you then take them to your GP? I have been tested twice recently for thyroid function and both times have been told that I am on the very low end of normal range.

[awaywego1]

I sent mine to gp with a letter as they showed high antibodies..if they show something significant they should act and/or refer to an endocrinologist.

[NightFallsFast]

Handsup it depends on the symptoms, but usually I would want t3 and t4, though in my experience they are rarely a normal if TSH is 0.5-2. My understanding is that antibody testing is quite expensive so 'rationed' in some areas. I can see the pros and cons of each arguement both as someone looking after individuals but also in terms of the crisis in healthcare funding. If everyone who presented with tiredness got every conceivable test for things that could cause tiredness the NHS wouldn't function. The GP's job should be to use clinical acumen to decide the likelihood of disease and weigh up the risks and benefits of the possible tests. There will always be the risk if missing a diagnosis, some GPs will be confident to sit with more risk than others, but we can't eliminate the risk entirely without subjecting people to unnecessary investigations

[NightFallsFast]

Sorry for the typo 'they are rarely abnormal if'

[Handsup]

Thanks for taking the time to reply nightfallsfast
awaywego1 that sounds reasonable - I'll probably give the blue horizon a go.