TSH Blood Test

The Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) blood test is typically run when one is experiencing low thyroid symptoms like weight gain, fatigue and depression or hyperthyroid type symptoms like weight loss, increased heart rate and insomnia. In standard medicine, TSH is used to monitor replacement hormone treatment.

When monitoring over all thyroid function, we recommend TSH with free T3 and free T4.

What’s Being Tested:

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) 3rd Generation

Fasting: No

Specimen: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

Turnaround Time: 3 Business Days

T-3, Total (Triiodothyronine, Total)

What’s Being Tested:

• T-3 Total (Triiodothyronine,Total)
  
  

Fasting: No

Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

T-3, Free (Triiodothyronine, Free)

What’s Being Tested:

• Triiodothyronine (Free)

Fasting: No

Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

Turnaround Time: 3 Business Days

T-4, Total (Thyroxine, Total)

What’s Being Tested:

• Total Thyroxine (T4)

Fasting: No

Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

T-4, Free (Thyroxine, Free)

What’s Being Tested:

• Thyroxine (Free)
  

Fasting: No

Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

Turnaround Time: 3 Business Days

Reverse T3 Test

In times of stress, the body may need to conserve energy. Since thyroid hormone acts like our internal thermostat, thyroid hormones may be suppressed in times of stress. One way this is done is by converting the thyroid hormone T4 into an inactive form of the active T3 hormone called reverse T3. This lowers the amount of available active T3 which can lead to hypothyroid type symptoms.

Since it is not standard to check for reverse T3 levels, your lab results may look normal but are still having low thyroid type symptoms. Instead of identifying the underlying stressor, most are prescribed the standard thyroid replacement hormone.

What’s Being Tested:

• Reverse T3

Fasting: No

Specimen: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

Turnaround Time: 4 Business Days

Important Note: If you are ordering from one of our reverse T3 restricted states (NY, NJ, MA, or RI), click here for other options.

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO)

What’s Being Tested:

• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO)
  

Fasting: No

Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

Turnaround Time: 4 Business Days

Antithyroglobulin Antibody (TGA)

What’s Being Tested:

• Antithyroglobulin Antibody (TGA)
  

Fasting: No

Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)

Our thyroid binding globulin test will help determine the cause of abnormal T4 levels. Thyroid binding globulin does bind T3 in the blood but mainly T4. If large amounts of thyroid binding globulin are present, the body will not have enough free, or usable, T4 to function properly.

Thyroid Binding Globulin is Increased by:

1. estrogens, including birth control pill, premarin and environmental estrogens
2. tamoxifen
3. pregnancy
4. perphenazine
5. liver disease, including hepatitis
6. genetic factors

Thyroid Binding Globulin is Decreased by:

1. chronic liver disease
2. nephrosis (kidney)
3. glucocorticoids
4. androgens/anabolic steroids (e.g. cortisone shots)
5. acromegaly (enlarged tissue due to increased growth hormone)

What’s Being Tested:

• Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG)

Specimen: Blood(Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)