How the f&@! do I do the antibody test?!

[Rinoachicken]

Got a home antibody test kit from gov. It’s a skin prick test.

Fine

But I’m supposed to get 600mls of blood from a bloody pin prick??!!!

I got like 3 or 4 drops and it’s not even up to the first line on the little bottle??!!!

I found it really easy. Put my hand in very hot water for a good five minutes first though.

@AllTheWorldIsGreen

I couldn't stop the blood flowing when I did mine. It was gross. (And curiously satisfying).

My first one was like this. The second one I couldn't get anything out!! Very odd!!

I am also a recovered self-harmer - pretty severe self harm as well - I thought it would be easy but when it came to it I wussed out and had to get my husband to do it!

I suppose that’s a good sign!

I couldn't do this. My friend who is a nurse came to do it and she couldn't get enough blood out of me.... apparently I just don't bleed.....

My dentist offers antibody tests, maybe yours too? There is no way I would do it on myself, I would probably go to the walk-in centre or treatment room.

I found that the lancet cut quite deep. I had no problem filling the test tube. In fact, i could have probably filled 5 more with the amount od blood flowing from me

I warmed my hands for 2 minutes in a sink of hot water prior to the test. After the test it was like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in my kitchen!

I did loads of these for the Biobank. I found hot water (for hand), a pint of water (to drink), skipping / star jumps (for 5 mins beforehand) and getting someone else to do the lancet (I didn’t push hard enough to get a deep cut by myself) all helped.

I got blood all over the box. Took two fingers but I could have filled way more. Husband barely got a few drops and couldn't send his off despite me having done mine earlier and talking him through all the things like warm hands, exercise, massaging fingers etc.

I found the best way to do the lancet was to put hand facing up on table and the hold the lancet onto finger between index and middle finger, press down hard with thumb on centre until it clicks. I did follow all the instructions carefully for improving blood flow, drank loads the day before, did a warm water hand bath, finger exercises, etc.

My issue was stopping the bleeding, ended up with hand held above head whilst applying pressure. The plaster they supplied was useless...

I ordered one too and I’m too scared to do it 😩
The box has been there for 2 weeks and I’m a wuss.

I was another who struggled to stop the bleeding.

I did soak my hand in warm water first, so try that.

Just a note though, you shouldn't post it on days over 25 degrees, so watch out for the temperature.

I left my hand in a warm water bowl for 20 mins which worked!

My family are doing the antibody test for the ONS. First go took us all a while. The second time was much easier especially for DD1 and I - alcohol the day before makes the blood flow very easily!

Makes a difference if you click the clicker thing pretty firmly. If you do it too tentatively, it’s hard to take the sample. I also now do it slightly to one side of my fingertip, as it’s then less likely to be sore afterwards eg for typing. The warm weather definitely helps!

It took me ages and three stabbings to get enough blood and still I ended up with blood everywhere. As PP said, it was like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I'd like to do it again in 6 months to see what's happened to my levels, but I shall set myself up in the bath (like eating a cream egg) to contain the mess.

I did it 5 days ago and I can still see the stab marks and my finger hurt for 4, though it's better today.

And I paid for all this! (Got turned down for all the free ones.)

OH and I do these. First time I had to use 2 lancets, nervous of using them as they wouldn't click easily, and how much it might hurt (what a wuss I was lol). The trick is to be hydrated and have very warm hands. I found sitting my hands useful or you can massage fingers till tips of fingers are red and... just relax. Use the middle finger, and prick the middle of fleshy tip of that finger. Keeping fingers pointing down, where possible, using the little lip of the container, push this against the prick to assist the blood flow into the bottle. Once the flow starts it'll keep coming. I can fill up a container quickly.

I'm doing a local uni study on healthcare staff.
Like another poster mentioned the day after I got the kit I cut myself while washing up. Smashed glass. So seized the opportunity. Haha.

If I have to do another one I would probably get a colleague to cannulate me and get it that way as I've not been successful with the finger prick in the past.

I don’t give up my blood easily (when I went to give blood they sent me home because they couldn’t get enough out 😂) and had to order a second test because I didn’t get enough the first time. Second time I had a hot shower and then ran my hand under the hot tap, as hot as I could stand and had absolutely no problem getting enough blood, didn’t even need to squeeze! Stopping it on the other hand was a different matter!

I did the hand in hot water for my first attempt, and didn't get many drops of blood. Decided to do a finger on my other hand as well and although I didn't really want to do star jumps etc to get he blood moving, after a couple of minutes jumping and swinging my arm round. I managed to get plenty. It might feel silly but worked for me.

I couldn't get the vial filled anywhere near the line but sent it off anyway. I got a result back.