Clear bloods but need to check again next week?

miss choc

Girls

Just wondering if any nurses on here might help I will check clinic anyway. 3 weeks ago I got an epileptic seizure all ok (I get them every couple of years) anyway to be on the safe side they took my bloods and they were all clear. Now I have a test booked in next week with an STI clinic I just want to check I am ok I hear they take bloods do I need to get them done again if they were ok 3 weeks ago. Or is is they will probably be testing for something different in the blood now. Hope makes sense.

sullivlo

miss choc wrote: »

Girls

Just wondering if any nurses on here might help I will check clinic anyway. 3 weeks ago I got an epileptic seizure all ok (I get them every couple of years) anyway to be on the safe side they took my bloods and they were all clear. Now I have a test booked in next week with an STI clinic I just want to check I am ok I hear they take bloods do I need to get them done again if they were ok 3 weeks ago. Or is is they will probably be testing for something different in the blood now. Hope makes sense.

They'll be testing for something different. There are different bio markers found in blood for different illnesses. These are tested under different conditions. You may notice that they take several vials of blood when you get bloods done for whatever reason, and some of the vials have different colour lids. These contain chemicals that preserve the blood, or preserves the bio marker, or enriches something in the blood to make it easier to analyse. They may need specific tubes for whatever tests they may need to do.

For example, if you were to need bloods checked for hormone levels (eg pregnancy, menopause etc), that requires a different colour tube than if you were looking to check iron levels or cholesterol.

Also, I'm not sure how widely available it is but there is now a rapid screening kit available for testing for HIV. I was part of a trial they did in a&e to test its efficacy in patients / the general public. That just involved a cheek swab and the results were back within 20 minutes.

They'll likely need to take more blood, however depending on the circumstances (whether or not you're symptomatic, whether you've had unprotected sex), they may not need to take blood as they can analyse the urine and / or swabs.

They can advise more effectively on the day. But either way, be ready to give blood.

Sorry to hear about your seizure. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Lucyfur

MOD

Hi OP,

Boards.ie is not allowed to give medical advise so I'm afraid I'll have to lock this. Maybe give your practice nurse a ring or pop into your pharmacist?

Best of luck,

Lucy.