ValI thought that I would put this at the top just in case no it was missed below by people that do this type of testing.
I wondered if the filter paper testing was specifically to test 17 OHP only or whether it is used to measure other androgens that follow such as androstenedione or testosterone? My point being that even though it is more accurate where measuring the 17 OHP over a 24 hour period is concerned does it give any idea in taking just that itself exactly WHY the 17 OHP is elevated either in all samples taken within a 24 hour period or in just one sample in the day? My concern below was that a child could have stress in one area of the day around the time of the testing and that this may cause a temporary high reading on one area or several areas of the day, but not necessarily for long enough to affect the endrostenedione or testosterone levels. With a conventional blood or urine test when these are done at the same time as a 17 OHP blood draw, you can determine if it WAS stress or whether all the other's are elevated and have been on a longer basis, thus determining if the child is truyl under suppressed.
So what do they do after they see an elevation of 17 OHP like this in filter paper testing? Do they have your run the tests a few more times on days following the first testings to verify the result and double check or what? Or do they then do the full blood draws for all the other tests in the area of the day where the elevated 17 OHP is concerned to check for undersuppression BEFORE raisng the dose? Has anyone ever had dose raises with this mode of testing and what happened in exact detail. If someone could elaborate how they went about justifying a true need for dose changes that would be great!
My other question was about the finger pricking itself. Are there any kids out there that are ok with it at all and that accept the testing over conventional blood testing or urine testing? If so how long have you been using this method of testing and how often is it performed on the child?
If anyone who does this can answer the above that would be great.