1. Wash your hands with soap and rinse.
2. Open the box and remove the 6 items, placing them on a clean and flat surface.
3. Take the lancet and carefully rotate and pull off the cap of the lancet.
4. Wipe the fingertip of the middle or ring finger with the alcohol pad and allow to air-dry.
5. Take the lancet and press down on the cleaned finger. A small drop of blood should appear. Wipe it with the alcohol pad. A small drop of blood should appear. Wipe it with the alcohol pad.
6. Collect blood up to the black line indicated on the capillary dropper.
7. Release and dispense all the blood collected by the capillary dropper into the specimen well on the cassette, by squeezing the dropper bulb.
8. Unscrew the cap of the buffer bottle, add 2 drops of buffer in the buffer well (s) of the cassette and start a timer.
9. Leave the cassette on a clean horizontal surface and wait for the coloured line(s) to appear. Read the results after 10 minutes.

Why is Vitamin D important for the body?

Vitamin D is often said to be used for healthy bones and healthy teeth. This is true, however vitamin
D is used by many other processes in the body. Having adequate levels of Vitamin D will increase
muscle strength, improve the immune system, reduce fall risks and improve mood and energy
levels.

Where do I get vitamin D from?

There are two main sources of vitamin D - food and sunlight. Foods that contain vitamin D include
sardines, tuna, salmon, egg yolks, red meat and liver.

How common is Vitamin D deficiency?

The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey from 2008-2012 showed 23% of adults aged 19–64 years
and 21% of adults aged 65 years and over suffered from vitamin D deficiency. Another survey which
concluded in 2019 showed that from a population of nearly 6.5 million people, 1/3rd of people were
deficient in Vitamin D.

What symptoms might I feel if I am deficient in vitamin D?

A lot of people with vitamin D deficiency will not have any symptoms.
Sometimes the symptoms might be very vague. Below are some of the symptoms of vitamin D
deficiency:

• Tiredness
• Feeling generally unwell
• Bone pain
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Low mood

Who is at risk of being vitamin D deficient?

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence puts the following people in the high-risk category of
being vitamin D deficient:

• Over 65 year olds
• Those with low exposure to the sun. This may be due to due to cultural reasons, those who are housebound, or those who are confined to the indoors for long periods
• Those with darker skin pigmentation
• Those who have had certain types of abdominal surgery which makes them less able to absorb vitamin D
• Those with severe liver or kidney disease
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Those who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2

How can I get more Vitamin D?

It’s very difficult to get enough Vitamin D from sunlight in the UK. That's why the UK government
recommends people in the UK take vitamin D supplements during the winter months.

How much Vitamin D supplement should I be taking?

It’s recommended that all UK adults take 10 micrograms (400 International Units) a day from October
to March. If you fall into one of the high-risk categories above, it is advised that you take a vitamin D
supplement of 10 micrograms (400 International Units) a day all year round.

Who should not take Vitamin D supplements?

If you suffer from high calcium levels or some cancers, you should not take vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D supplements should also be taken with caution in patients on some heart medications and
some blood pressure medications. If you are on any medications for these then speak with your
doctor before starting Vitamin D supplements.

People with kidney disease, liver disease and those who suffer from kidney stones should also seek
medical advice from their doctor before starting Vitamin D supplements.