Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test.
Guide. Thyroid hormone tests are blood tests that check how well the thyroid gland is working. The thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate the way the body uses energy. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies in front of your windpipe (trachea), just below your voice box (larynx). Why It Is Done. Thyroid hormone tests are done to: 1  Find out what is causing an abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. 2  For more information, see the topic Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) . 3  This is the most common reason for thyroid hormone tests. 4  Check how well treatment of thyroid disease is working Introduction. The thyroid gland produces hormones that are essential for normal body metabolism. Blood testing is now commonly available to determine the adequacy of the levels of thyroid hormones. These blood tests can define whether the thyroid gland's hormone production is normal, overactive, or underactive Thyroid function test. A blood test measuring your hormone levels is the only accurate way to find out whether there's a problem. The test, called a thyroid function test, looks at levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) in the blood. Thyroid hormone tests are done to: 1  Find out what is causing an abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. 2  Check how well treatment of thyroid disease is working. 3  Screen newborns to find out if the thyroid gland function is normal. Why It Is Done. Thyroid hormone tests are done to: 1  Find out what is causing an abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. 2  For more information, see the topic Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) . 3  This is the most common reason for thyroid hormone tests. 4  Check how well treatment of thyroid disease is working A TSH test is frequently ordered along with or preceding a free T4 test. Other thyroid tests that may be ordered include a free T3 test and thyroid antibodies (if autoimmune-related thyroid disease is suspected). Sometimes TSH, free T4 and free T3 are ordered together as a thyroid panel. TSH testing is used to: 1  Diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms. Today's TSH tests are very accurate and sensitive; they can help diagnose even the mildest cases of hypothyroidism. T4 Testing. It's important to understand that just because your TSH test comes back normal, it does not rule out the possibility of you being hypothyroid. If your free T4 levels are too low—the normal range for T4 is 5 to 13.5 micrograms per deciliter—it's a possible indicator that you have hypothyroidism, even if your previous TSH tests came back normal. TSH Testing. In diagnosing hypothyroidism, your doctor will take into account both your symptoms and the results of a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. In essence, hypothyroidism is the result of diminished levels of thyroid hormones—known as T3 and T4. If your free T4 levels are too low—the normal range for T4 is 5 to 13.5 micrograms per deciliter—it's a possible indicator that you have hypothyroidism, even if your previous TSH tests came back normal.
http://www.webmd.com/women/thyroid-hormone-tests http://www.medicinenet.com/thyroid_blood_tests/article.htm http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Thyroid-under-active/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx http://www.webmd.com/women/thyroid-hormone-tests https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tsh/tab/test http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-diagnosis http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-diagnosis
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