Anaemia Test Kit Iron Deficiency Ferritin Testing Blood Anemia Test One Step (1 Test)

After months of feeling exhausted despite decent sleep and a supposedly healthy diet, I decided to check if anaemia might be the culprit before booking a GP appointment. This home test kit seemed like a sensible first step, and I'm glad I tried it. The kit arrived well-packaged with clear instructions and all the necessary bits - lancet for the finger prick, collection card, alcohol wipe, plaster, and prepaid return envelope. Everything was sealed and felt properly medical-grade. I was a bit nervous about the blood collection (not great with needles), but the lancet was surprisingly painless - just a quick click and hardly felt a thing. Getting enough blood onto the collection card took a bit of patience and hand-squeezing. Tip: run your hands under warm water first to get the blood flowing better! Posting the sample was faff-free with the prepaid envelope. Just make sure the blood spots are properly dried before sealing it up as instructed. Results came through via email within four days, which was quicker than the week they mentioned on their website. The report was comprehensive and easy to understand - showing my ferritin levels were indeed quite low (12 ng/mL when the normal range starts at 30), along with an explanation of what this meant and suggested next steps. Armed with these results, my GP appointment was much more productive. Instead of starting from scratch with tests, we could immediately discuss supplementation options. My doctor actually seemed impressed with the accuracy of the home test when compared with previous lab work I'd had done. At around £25, it's not cheap, but considering the convenience of doing it at home and the speed of results, I think it's worth it. Certainly cheaper than going private for blood tests. For anyone constantly tired, experiencing hair loss, or having other potential anaemia symptoms, this test provides a good first check before troubling the NHS. For me, it's led to proper iron supplementation that's gradually helping my energy levels. Only minor complaint is that the lancet is one-use only, and I needed a second attempt to get enough blood, so had to use one from an old diabetes testing kit I had lying around.

Why you might need this test: Ferritin is a protein need to store iron in the blood. If ferritin is lower than 20, You might have symptoms of anaemia such as fatigue, restless legs, breathlessness, weakness, lightheadedness, ringing ears (aka tinnitus). Who gets anaemia? Women are more prone especially those with heavy periods and during/after pregnancy. Those who consume a lot of caffeine throughout the day, as caffeine inhibits the absorption of iron from food by up to 90% Vegans and vegetarians People who take 'heartburn' medications such as Lansoprazole, Omeprazole and Esomeprazole, which reduce secretions of stomach acid and thus inhibit absorption of iron, b12 etc from the diet. My experience with this kit: It's a little bit of a faff to get the blood in the tiny tube but if you follow the instructions carefully and make sure your hands are warm, you will get enough blood for it to fill. First time I did the test there was just the control line - the test line was none existent. This confirmed my suspicion that my ferritin levels were really low. Made a supreme effort for 6 months to take a good quality iron supplement and drop caffeinated drinks, plus reduce my dose of omeprazole where possible to give my body a fighting chance. Second time round I got a pretty clear test line showing that my ferritin levels were above 20. I'm really glad I bought this test and have recommended it to others based on my experience. It's so much more convenient than traipsing to the doctors. Sadly the NHS is heaving under the strain at the moment so I think that for those of us that can afford to help ourselves with tests like this without wasting a precious appointment, it's a good thing to do. Thanks for reading :)

Quick and efficient - identified low iron level which was confirmed with a follow up blood test from the doctor

I had an odd feeling that my iron levels were low. Used this kit, which showed deficiency that was later confirmed by a proper test at the doctors. I kept using this for the next 3 months, just to keep an eye prior to re-testing at the doctors. When my latest proper blood test showed normal iron 3 months later, this little kit also confirmed it. I think, it’s very convenient, easy to use, pretty accurate as a quick monitoring tool, and inexpensive. Of course, it won’t replace a consultation with a doctor and a proper blood test, but it’s a great starting point.

This test should not be trusted, it told me I was anaemic and I immediately went and bought lots of iron supplements. Went to my GP for a full and proper test, all my bloods were completely normal. Don’t waste your money or your time. Utter hoax.

Easy to use, quick results