Any ideas to solve this problem? (TW - medical)

[LonginesPrime]

My DF is in his 70s and has already been in intensive care recently (just before corona hit) with internal bleeding which required several transfusions. His blood count has been monitored every fortnight at the GP since, to ensure he doesn't need further blood (which drs say could occur if there is further internal bleeding).

He has cancer and, separately, a heart condition that means he can't have surgery and is very vulnerable to further heart attacks.

He and my DM have obviously been advised to self-isolate (and were more or less practising social distancing for months before this because of the cancer and his medication anyway).

So the problem is how he can have these necessary (and potentially life-saving) blood tests with minimal risk of exposure to coronavirus.

I have suggested that either DM take a phlebotomy course over Skype (DM not keen and he has bad veins) or the community nurse has an antibac shower at theirs and changes clothes/mask before seeing him. I also suggested a hazmat suit to go out in but DM says that's not practical.

Has anyone got similar issues? Any ideas?

What are they actually testing?

If it's for anemia then could they do the pin prick test that the blood service do?

Good idea - I'll check with them whether that would work!

Thank you @sashh - DM has ordered the kit (direct from the manufacturers as Amazon has sold out) so they're going to use that!

There's a 10% margin for accuracy, so it's not a perfect solution, but it will give enough of a gauge as to how DF is doing and, of course if the reading is low, if means they can take a more informed decision as to whether it's worth the risk of breaking their self-isolation to seek medical treatment.

DM had never even heard of MN (she's still getting to grips with the Internet in general!) and is absolutely over the moon so thank you so much!!

NP, I hope it is OK. Do check with the Dr though, because they might be measuring something else instead or as well.