EASA First Class Medical - Blood Test
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EASA First Class Medical - Blood Test
Hello,
in which countries is the blood test for the 1st class (EASA) medical just a prick in the finger or earlobe, instead of being taken from a vein (arm).
in which countries is the blood test for the 1st class (EASA) medical just a prick in the finger or earlobe, instead of being taken from a vein (arm).
The test is a haemaglobin and is the same whichever method is used. In The UK you can use a laboratory who require a tube full but many AMEs have bought machines that do it on a capillary sample from the finger. It is up to the AME not the CAA. I have posted here before about the different machines
I suspect therefore it simply depends on what equipment the doctor has to hand! But do tell us why it matters? It is the same test
I suspect therefore it simply depends on what equipment the doctor has to hand! But do tell us why it matters? It is the same test
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The reason behind my question is that, I tend to get a phlebitis / superficial thrombosis when a needle is stuck into a vein. Last summer I had a surgery and a needle was left in my arm for two days and I developed a superficial thrombosis. Had to take anticoagulation for three month. I was send to a specialist to get it cleared, all coagulation factors where checked but no reason was found.
I hold a (german) 1st class EASA Medical which is due to be renewed (also hold a US 1st class Medical, no blood test required). So as a logical consequence I'm a bit concerned now, since in Germany the blood is taken from the vein. I've already talked to my AME about it, asked if It'd be possible to take the blood from the finger or earlobe. He said it doesn't matter to him, but his nurse said that it must be taken form the vein, since the blood sample from the finger or earlobe would not be sufficient to yield an accurate result. My AME said in his opinion the whole fuss about the (EASA) medical blood testing is pointless anyway.
As a consequence I'm thinking abut transferring my EASA Medical to a different member state, where it's not required/necessary to take the blood form the vein. I'm also considering Austria, is there anybody who knows how it's done on Austria - that would be great? Thanks!
I hold a (german) 1st class EASA Medical which is due to be renewed (also hold a US 1st class Medical, no blood test required). So as a logical consequence I'm a bit concerned now, since in Germany the blood is taken from the vein. I've already talked to my AME about it, asked if It'd be possible to take the blood from the finger or earlobe. He said it doesn't matter to him, but his nurse said that it must be taken form the vein, since the blood sample from the finger or earlobe would not be sufficient to yield an accurate result. My AME said in his opinion the whole fuss about the (EASA) medical blood testing is pointless anyway.
As a consequence I'm thinking abut transferring my EASA Medical to a different member state, where it's not required/necessary to take the blood form the vein. I'm also considering Austria, is there anybody who knows how it's done on Austria - that would be great? Thanks!
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There is a big difference between leaving a foreign object in someone's vein for several days as well as putting medication through it, and having a simple blood test. If the doctors did not find any other underlying reason for why you had this thrombosis then the risk of a further one after a blood test is very small. And if it did happen again would suggest something more important is going on which would affect your medical longer term.
The UK CAA state this "Please note: The UK CAA has been advised by the German Authority (LBA) that, due to German national law concerning Data Protection, the LBA are unable to facilitate the transfer of pilot medical records from Germany to other States. It is therefore not possible to proceed with transfers of State of Licence Issue from Germany (LBA) to the UK (UK CAA), or indeed any other state, as the whole certificatory medical record of pilots must be held by the state to which a licence is transferred. Please note that German pilots’ licences are fully valid in all EASA member states." on their website taken from here https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-ind...te-or-licence/
So unfortunately change SOLI may not be possible either in this situation.
The UK CAA state this "Please note: The UK CAA has been advised by the German Authority (LBA) that, due to German national law concerning Data Protection, the LBA are unable to facilitate the transfer of pilot medical records from Germany to other States. It is therefore not possible to proceed with transfers of State of Licence Issue from Germany (LBA) to the UK (UK CAA), or indeed any other state, as the whole certificatory medical record of pilots must be held by the state to which a licence is transferred. Please note that German pilots’ licences are fully valid in all EASA member states." on their website taken from here https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-ind...te-or-licence/
So unfortunately change SOLI may not be possible either in this situation.
Last edited by kui2324; 10th May 2017 at 14:02.
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Thanks for the feedback! I'm aware of the protection of "personal data" in Germany (LBA). I spoke to my AME about that and he told me that prior to sending the medical report to the german aviation authority (LBA) he must remove all personal data from it (complete name, address, DOB, license number etc.). So the LBA receives the medical report without any personal data and this makes it impossible to transfer the record to another state. I have heard rumors that the LBA is considering to soften this rule, because there have been frequent complaints about it. My AME told me that he can hand me the full report containing my personal data and that I could try to obtain an Austrian or Swiss medical, don't know if that'd work but perhaps worth a try.
Would it be possible to obtain a (new) medical from a different EASA member state? I don't hold a EASA pilot license yet, did the conversion FAA to EASA but CPL/IR check-ride is still pending. I mean the german aviation authority can't/doesn't transfer any records anyway.
On the other hand, as mentioned earlier by Radgirl: "It is up to the AME not the CAA." Maybe I should make a few inquiries and see if I can find another AME (in germany) who takes the blood from the finger or earlobe. Since my current AME also said to him it doesn't matter how the blood is taken as long as it yields a proper result. Only his nurse refuses to take the blood from the finger or earlobe.
Would it be possible to obtain a (new) medical from a different EASA member state? I don't hold a EASA pilot license yet, did the conversion FAA to EASA but CPL/IR check-ride is still pending. I mean the german aviation authority can't/doesn't transfer any records anyway.
On the other hand, as mentioned earlier by Radgirl: "It is up to the AME not the CAA." Maybe I should make a few inquiries and see if I can find another AME (in germany) who takes the blood from the finger or earlobe. Since my current AME also said to him it doesn't matter how the blood is taken as long as it yields a proper result. Only his nurse refuses to take the blood from the finger or earlobe.
Last edited by Transsonic2000; 12th May 2017 at 13:31.
What the nurse is really saying is they send the blood off to a laboratory. The lab cant use a fingerprick sized sample. Good luck finding someone with a machine.
BUT I really doubt taking a sample from a vein will be an issue. You had a cannula or tube, not a needle left in and either the drugs irritated the vein or you developed an infection (phlebitis). We normally replace cannulas every 24 hours in the UK to avoid infection. It is very common to get a hard, red or painful vein - probably 2% after 48 hours. I do not bother investigating it. We simply treat it with pain killers and topical anti inflammatory cream plus antibiotics if the skin is also infected.
The risk of you developing a problem giving a blood sample is therefore the same as for anyone else - tiny. You may get a bruise but infection or anything else is highly unlikely. Trying to change your member state is disproportionate
BUT I really doubt taking a sample from a vein will be an issue. You had a cannula or tube, not a needle left in and either the drugs irritated the vein or you developed an infection (phlebitis). We normally replace cannulas every 24 hours in the UK to avoid infection. It is very common to get a hard, red or painful vein - probably 2% after 48 hours. I do not bother investigating it. We simply treat it with pain killers and topical anti inflammatory cream plus antibiotics if the skin is also infected.
The risk of you developing a problem giving a blood sample is therefore the same as for anyone else - tiny. You may get a bruise but infection or anything else is highly unlikely. Trying to change your member state is disproportionate
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In Belgium it is just from the fingertip.
No need to transfer your license. you can do the class one renewal in any EASA country. Just tell the AME you have a German license and they will send their report to the LBA.
I have never done a medical in the (current) state of my license issue.
No need to transfer your license. you can do the class one renewal in any EASA country. Just tell the AME you have a German license and they will send their report to the LBA.
I have never done a medical in the (current) state of my license issue.
