ResearchSafe

Biotin injection messing up my lab results – anyone else?

Posted by grinder265 in Safety & Side Effects - 8 points, 4 comments.

Hey guys ngl I started doing biotin injections 5mg IM twice a week for hair and nail support after a tough ultra. 01 while I felt totally normal. My doc was confused and asked if I’d been taking any supplements.

I mentioned the biotin and she said yeah high dose biotin can interfere with immunoassays making TSH troponin and some hormone tests look off. She told me to hold the biotin for at least 48 hours before any labs. Has anyone else seen this?

I’m wondering if the interference is dose dependent or if even lower doses cause issues. Also do you guys schedule your biotin shots around blood draws or just skip them the day before testing? Would love to hear what’s worked for you guys to avoid false results. Thanks.

Comments

  • quiet_ironman: I ran into the same thing after a 10 mg biotin shot twice a week for my nails – my TSH came out weirdly low and my doc had to ask if I was on any new supplements. For me the interference seems pretty clear at that dose, I haven’t tried lower amounts but I’ve read that even 5 mg can skew some immunoassays if you test too soon. I now skip the injection the day before any blood work and give it a full 48 hour break, which has kept my results looking normal. Have you found that a 24‑hour hold works
  • ivy_g: Ah, 24hr might work for some but i stuck to 48 just to be safe lah. My doc said even lower doses can mess with tests if you test too close. Tried 24 once and my tsh was still off. Better safe than sorry, right? Have you tested after 24?
  • grinder265: Ngl ivy_g’s right 48hr is safer especially with my 5mg dose. Tried 24hr once and my tsh was still 12.5 vs normal 5-8. Doc said even low doses like 2mg can skew things if tested early. Did you test after 24 or skip shots the day before? Wondering if staggered dosing helps more than just waiting.
  • grinder265: Ngl I tested a 24‑hour hold once and my TSH still looked low, so I’ve been sticking to the full 48‑hour break before labs. Has anyone tried splitting the dose or using a lower mg to see if the interference drops off?

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