Should I fast before taking my test?
We recommend that you fast for eight hours before collecting your blood sample. This will allow our labs to attain the clearest results to measure your health.
The easiest time to do so is first thing in the morning before breakfast — and having had a hot shower helps get the flow going too.
Make sure to drink lots of water — because being hydrated is one of the best things you can do to prepare.
Drinking black coffee and tea before taking your sample is absolutely fine ☕️
When should I take the blood sample?
We recommend taking your sample first thing in the morning, Monday to Saturday. And posting your sample as soon as possible after it's collected. If you take the test during the day, it's best to post the sample before the last postbox collection of the day.
The lab is open to receiving delivery of samples on Saturday — please note that confirmation of receipt emails are only sent out from Monday to Friday.
Please note if you're taking a testosterone test, it's important to collect the sample first thing in the morning around 9am, before eating.
If your test package has women's hormones, please collect your sample on day 3 of your period, as this is when your results can be best interpreted. If day 3 falls on a Sunday, you can also collect your sample on days 2-4.
I've been unwell - can I still collect my sample?
If you've been unwell and haven't been taking medication, then we'd recommend waiting at least two weeks before taking your Thriva test. Or until you feel completely recovered.
But if you have been taking medication, we’d recommend waiting around four weeks before collecting your sample.
Please note: you shouldn't come off of any medication that's been prescribed to you by your GP, in order to take a Thriva test.
When should I do my test after having a vaccination?
Short answer: after two weeks.
The following test results may be impacted by a recent COVID-19 vaccination:
hs-CRP test
and Ferritin.
The results for hs-CRP (high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) may be raised in response to the COVID-19 vaccine. This means you may see higher hs-CRP levels if you have recently received the vaccine.
Ferritin is a marker of iron stores and is also found in our Advanced Iron Profile test. It's also an ‘acute-phase reactant’. This means it's a marker that increases rapidly when you currently or recently had an infection or virus — or when there is a level of inflammation within the body.
Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection and triggering an immune response. So CRP and Ferritin levels can increase because of infection or inflammation caused by this response.
We recommend waiting two weeks to do these tests after having a vaccine.
How often should I take a test?
We believe it's most effective to monitor your internal health regularly over time. So we recommend taking your test every three months. This is the amount of time it takes to see the impact of health and lifestyle changes.
It's completely up to you though. Some people might want to test monthly, whilst others would prefer every six months — you can change the frequency of your subscription from your Thriva dashboard at any time.
How do I collect my sample?
Collecting your sample might be a bit daunting. But don’t worry, follow the instructions in our sample collection guide here and you’ll get the hang of it.
What should I do if I'm still struggling to collect my sample?
If any of your tubes aren’t full (whether it’s one or both), unfortunately, we won’t be able to process them. Please pop your old samples in the bin and follow this link here to order a new kit.
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