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Inr (Warfarin) Testing

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allenlondon | 14:37 Sun 23rd Aug 2020 | Body & Soul
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Mrs A, on warfarin, has to traipse to the local hospital every week or two for a blood test (INR).

Are there home testing kits available? I know they used to be a silly price, but adding up the time and petrol over a year, might be worth the cost.

Ta.

Allen.
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Don't know if her medics would be OK with that.
These guidelines are from earlier this year, may be worth seeing what the latest advice is with the clinic and whether the tests can be spaced out better.

https://b-s-h.org.uk/media/18170/inr-testing-for-out-patients-on-warfarin-during-covid-19-restrictions_26-03-2020.pdf
Our clients still have a district nurse to their homes to test. Is that not available for you?
Question Author
Pixie374 - you mean INR clients? Blimey, you do live in a privileged area (and good luck to you! We ALL should live in such areas).

Down here in Brent there isn't a lot to go round, and testing some old woman's blood isn't rated as a high priority...

A
Yes... I guess it is about priorities... sorry if it didn't help.
Question Author
No, it does help, pixie. I'll suggest to Mrs A that she talks to her Warfarin Clinic about it. During the lockdown, they sent round a travelling phlebotomist to take her bloods at the front door, so the district nurse idea is worth pushing. Ta.

A
Ask your GP/Haematologist if you could change to one of the newer anticoagulants in which the blood is only checked annually.
/// Wow, they are expensive:- ///

You ain't seen nothing yet - just wait until Boris gives the NHS to Uncle Sam.
No,
discuss with your GP why she isnt on rivaroxaban
n o testing needed
//You ain't seen nothing yet - just wait until Boris gives the NHS to Uncle Sam//
More false news from Canary.
Question Author
Thanks sqad, Peter; she tried rivaroxaban and got wobbly. She gets wobbly. Hocum (you'll both know the disease that is slang for), other things, fluid on one lung, etc., etc. Not well, although (like the Black Knight) you would never know it.

Anyway, rivaroxaban was tried, but made her more wobbly than usual, so reverted to Warfarin.

A
-- answer removed --
My late husband was on warfarin and always had his tests at our local doctor's surgery. Wondered why your OH has to go to hospital for it.
Question Author
Gill, I am sorry for your loss, whether it was recent or long ago. Time doesn't heal, in spite of what 'they' say.

Our GP's surgery WILL do INR, but say (strongly) that it 'takes 10 days to get the result', and when Mrs A said 10 days was too long, as the dose-change was critical, the GP chimed in and said 'Nonsense, 10 days is quite adequate.'

Mrs A reported this to the Warfarin clinic, who said this was not unusual for GP surgeries...

Life is a battle, isn't it?

A
Thanks, Allen. Over 3 years ago now but not easy sometimes especially alone over lockdown.
I thought it was tested at the surgery as the reading could vary a lot and he sometimes had it done quite frequently. Perhaps it is different in different areas of the country.
Hope she can sort something better soon.
I cannot believe 10 days for INR result. We do them in our clinic and the result is immediate by finger prick. Lots of tourists come in just for this
Question Author
calmck: yes, that's what Mrs A gets from the Warfarin Clinic at Northwick Park - she goes in the morning, they phone in the afternoon, and at worst she gets her yellow book back the next morning.

But our GP's gaff is 'self-funding', a hangover from Blair and his nonsense (not that the current lot would be any better). Hence, sending a blood-test to the local hospital costs the GP about £20, whereas sending it up the country (or even OUT of the country, who knows) is about £2. Money takes priority over quick results, of course.

Gill: see the last paragraph. Quite likely you have proper old-fashioned doctors, who see looking after patients as important.

With good wishes,

Allen.

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