Growth Hormone Test

Blood Spot Test Collection Instructions

Getting Organized:

  • Read this entire section carefully before collecting blood.
  • Plan a little extra time to collect your sample.
  • Take hormones/medication at least 12-24 hours before you plan to collect blood sample.

Lay out the kit contents the night before as a reminder to collect your blood in the morning. To save yourself some time Fill out the requisition form use black ink (no gel or marker pens) the night before. Don’t forget to add the date and time of collection to the form once collected.

If testing thyroid your doctor may recommend you take your basal (core) or armpit temperature 4-7 mornings (if possible). This is best done using a basal or glass thermometer calibrated for small temperature changes (available at most drug stores). Do not use a digital thermometer in this case.

  1. Place thermometer near your bed, so you can easily reach it without getting up.
  2. In the morning before sitting up or getting out of bed, place the thermometer in your armpit, being certain that it touches skin on both sides.
  3. Relax keeping the thermometer in place for a minimum of 10 minutes (by the clock, not estimating).
  4. At the end of the ten minutes, remove thermometer and record your temperature in degrees (Fahrenheit).
  5. Do this for as many mornings as possible, record at least three reading on the requisition form.

Do not take your temperature if you are ill.

Women with a menstrual cycle should do this test during the first few days after menses begins. Temperature should not be taken near the ovulatory phase of your menstrual cycle (approximately day 12 of a 28 day cycle).

Women who have had a hysterectomy or are postmenopausal can measure basal temperature at any day of the month.

Men can measure basal temperature at any day of the month.

CAUTION:

Do not use this product if you have a blood clotting disorder (such as hemophilia) or are taking blood thinning medications (such as anticoagulants) unless otherwise directed by your health care professional.

STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL COLLECTION

1. BEFORE YOU BEGIN
 

  • Wash hands with soap and warm water and dry thoroughly.
  • Lay out the lancets, open alcohol prep pad, sterile gauze pad, and bandage.
  • Open blood spot collection card and lay flat.
  • Write your name and date on the card.

2. REMOVE CAP FROM LANCET

  • Remove plastic cap from lancet.
  • Once the cap is removed do not touch the exposed surface of the lancet until you are ready to use.

3. CLEAN SELECTED FINGER

  • Choose either the middle or ring finger of your non-dominate hand.
  • To help increase blood flow rub hands together for 10 seconds, then allow hand to hang at your side for 30 seconds.

4. CHOOSE AND CLEAN SELECTED FINGER

  • Use alcohol prep to further clean the finger.

5. PLACE HAND ON FLAT SURFACE

  • Place the chosen hand with the palm side up on a flat surface or table.
  • Place the lancet slightly off center near the tip of your finger (do not use exact center).

6. PRESS LANCET FIRMLY ON FINGER

  • Hold lancet steady against your finger.
  • Press lancet firmly against your finger until it clicks.
  • Observe the finger to see if blood is flowing.

7. WIPE AWAY FIRST DROP

  • Use the sterile gauze pad to wipe away the first blood drop.

8. GENTLY MILK HAND AND FINGER

  • Holding hand downward, gently milk hand starting at the wrist and working down to the base of the finger to produce blood.
  • DO NOT squeeze just the finger as this blocks blood flow.

9. FILL EACH CIRCLE

  • Repeat until …... Each drop is large and hanging. Allow blood to drop onto filter paper or carefully touch the filter paper with the drop only (not finger). Use 1-2 drops of blood to fill each circle. Once circles are filled clean finger and apply bandage.

10. LET SPOTS AIR DRY
 

  • Leave collection card open to allow blood spots to dry at least 4-5 hours. Once dried and without touching the filter paper, fold the top card over the blood spots at the fold line and tuck under the stub “matchbook” fashion.

11. COMPLETE REQUISITION FORM

  • Complete the requisition form and any other paperwork that may be in the kit. Filling in the symptom section is optional but allows for a more complete test report.
  • Don’t forget to indicate which tests are to be completed at the bottom of the form.

12. PLACE IN MAILER

Place the blood collection card along with the applicable paperwork (original requisition form must be returned) in the UPS mailer bag affix the label. Give to any UPS Driver or drop off site.

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NOTE: California Residents - Business and Professions Code 1246.5 Requires That Any Test that has not been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for sale to the public without a prescription as an Over-The-Counter Test kit must be ordered by a Licensed physician acting on a patient's behalf.  All orders for test kits within the state of California

NOTE: New York State Residents New York State health law prohibits the testing of certain specimens collected in or mailed from New York, and prohibits the transmission of data from our laboratory to NY physicians or residents. Therefore, direct receipt of lab results for NY residents is not possible.

International Residents & Orders:  Extra shipping charges may be added for international orders.  Patients will be contacted by e-mail or telephone to approve charges.