THYROID Panel (TSH + Free T3 + Free T4)

Complete Guide to Thyroid Panel (TSH + Free T3 + Free T4)

 

This panel checks the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4), and free triiodothyronine (T3).

• You can customize the THYROID Panel, which includes TSH, Free T3, and Free T4.
• This test is priced at $68.36.

Additional tests you can consider:

• A CBC with Differential for $19.85
• A CMP Panel: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel for $19.85
• A DHEA-Sulfate test for $39.34
• A Thyroglobulin Antibody test for $44.10
• A Reverse T3 Test for $79.67
• A Lipid (Cholesterol) Panel that includes LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides for $17.64
• A THYROID Peroxidase Antibodies - TPO Antibodies test for $33.08

 

Thyroid Panel (TSH + Free T3 + Free T4): Complete Guide

Thyroid hormones help control our metabolism. They influence nearly every organ in our body. These hormones tell the organs how fast or slow to work. They also help manage oxygen usage and how we produce heat. Issues with the thyroid, such as overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), can greatly change how our metabolism works. This panel checks the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and also looks at free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3). When the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, the body uses energy at a slower rate. This condition is called hypothyroidism. The panel includes:

• TSH
• Free T3
• Free T4
• You can also add reverse T3 and thyroid AB with anti-TPO tests to your cart.

 

Lab Test Collection Instructions

Dietary supplements with biotin can change lab test results. They may either show levels that are higher or lower than expected. For patients taking the daily recommended amount of biotin, it is best to take blood samples at least 8 hours after their last dose. For those taking high doses of biotin, it is important to wait at least 72 hours after their last dose before taking the samples.

The Importance of Thyroid Tests: All You Need to Know

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It has a shape similar to a butterfly. You can find it at the base of your neck. Usually, the thyroid gland is about 2 to 5 inches long and weighs up to 30 grams in adults. It is very important to share any sensitive information about thyroid health only with qualified professionals. This should include information from an official government organization.

The thyroid is often overlooked when considering your health. But the price of thyroid tests has been dropping every year. The thyroid is important for how every cell, tissue, muscle, or bone functions. It also helps control how our metabolism changes food into energy.

Thyroid cancer and Hashimoto's disease are two problems that affect the thyroid due to an autoimmune disorder. Doctors recommend getting a blood test each year to monitor your health. If you ignore an autoimmune disorder like Hashimoto's disease, it might cause serious health problems.

What Happens During a Thyroid Test?

When you get thyroid function tests, a health care professional will take a blood sample from your arm. This is a simple blood test. It checks the levels of important hormones like TSH, Free T3, and Free T4. You might feel a small pinch when the needle goes in, but it won’t take long. After that, they send the sample to a lab. There, they look for any problems with hormone levels. These thyroid function tests are very important. They help you see how well your thyroid gland is working. They can also diagnose issues like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Why Thyroid is So Important?

The thyroid gland is very important for your body. It is located in the front of your neck. This gland releases hormones that help in making proteins and managing metabolism. It helps control several key body functions. These include breathing, body weight, body temperature, cholesterol levels, and heart rate. It also affects menstrual cycles in women, digestion, growth, the brain, and bone health.

We can think of the thyroid gland like an oven and the pituitary gland like its thermostat. If the oven gets too cold, the thermostat tells it to make TSH. This helps the thyroid hormones raise your temperature. If the oven gets too hot, the pituitary gland makes less TSH. This helps cool you down.

The thyroid gland produces two key hormones, T3 and T4. It needs iodine from foods such as seafood, bread, and milk to make these hormones. A radioactive iodine uptake test, or thyroid scan, helps see how well the thyroid uses a small amount of iodine. T3 and T4 play a role in how quickly the heart beats. They also help the digestive system work better to process food.

If your T3 and T4 levels are low, your heart rate might be slower. This can also cause you to gain weight because of constipation. However, if your T3 and T4 levels are high, you may feel your heart rate speed up. You might also have diarrhea, and this can lead to weight loss.

Types of Thyroid Tests

A healthcare worker can check for hormonal imbalances using thyroid function tests. You can pick just one test or go for a more detailed panel that requires a blood sample. Let’s look at some of these tests. Keep in mind that the cost of thyroid tests is going down. This makes it a great time to check your thyroid.

The Comprehensive Thyroid Panel

The comprehensive thyroid panel is the best test for thyroid hormones. It is detailed and affordable. This test can find many issues that simple tests often miss.

This test panel checks for various thyroid disorders. It can find problems like hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease. The panel measures several key levels. These include TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, Thyroglobulin Antibody, and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (Anti-Tpo).

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

The TSH test, short for thyroid-stimulating hormone test, is a common way to check for thyroid disease. This test looks at how the pituitary gland is working. If the TSH test results are normal and fall between 0.450 and 4.500 μIU/mL for people over 10 years old, it means the TSH levels are normal. This also signals that there is enough thyroid hormone for newborn babies and not too much thyroid hormone.

An increased level of TSH can mean that the pituitary gland is telling the body that the thyroid is not producing enough hormones. This situation is called hypothyroidism.

If your TSH level is very low, it shows that your body is making too many hormones. This can lead to hyperthyroidism.

Free T3 ( Free Triiodothyronine Test)

The test for this hormone checks if a patient has hyperthyroidism. Normal T3 levels should be between 100 and 200 ng/Dl.

When you feel symptoms like constipation, anxiety, depression, dry skin, a fast heart rate, or trouble sleeping, it might be time to get a test.

Free T4 (Free Thyroxine Test)

The thyroid gland makes a hormone called T4, also known as thyroxine. This thyroxine attaches to proteins and moves to your tissues through the blood.

T4 and proteins will split apart. This lets T4 change into T3, which works better. Doctors often recommend testing both TSH and free T4 to learn more about hypothyroidism. For adults over 19, the normal range for this test is 0.82-1.77 ng/dl.

Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction

• Many issues can arise with the thyroid.
• They can appear at any age.
• This can be caused by several factors.
• These factors include injuries, a lack of nutrients in our diet, or illnesses.

The two main issues related to the thyroid are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Here’s a simple explanation of both:

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is a lack of iodine. Another common cause is a condition known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This condition is linked to high levels of thyroid antibodies. In contrast, the main reason for hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease.

In both situations, the patient will develop a goiter. We still do not know what causes Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It appears that both genes and outside factors play a role.

The absence of thyroid hormones can lead to several signs. You may notice dry skin and changes in your voice. A common feeling is extreme tiredness. It is possible to gain weight and struggle with sleep as well. Other problems might include muscle cramps, heart issues, changes in your menstrual cycle, and fluid buildup around the heart and in your abdomen.

Without proper treatment, hypothyroidism can lead to issues with your heart and breathing. It can make you feel very tired, cause weight gain, and lead to feelings of sadness. These problems can influence both your quality of life and your lifespan.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism happens when the body has too many thyroid hormones. This makes the heart work harder. Because of this, several other problems can occur. The most common ones are sinus tachycardia, which means a heart rate over 100 beats per minute. It can also cause an irregular heartbeat and other heart issues.

An extra symptom of this disorder is feeling your heart race, also known as palpitations. When there are too many thyroid hormones, the heart pumps blood faster. This means the heart muscle needs more oxygen.

Order Your Thyroid Panel Today

Get to know your thyroid better by choosing the right thyroid test today. You will receive your test results easily, along with reference ranges. Visit discountedlabs.com to check out several thyroid lab tests. This website offers options recommended by the Cleveland Clinic and approved by the American Thyroid Association. You can find convenient locations in more than 30 states across the US. Plus, you can find helpful information about marketing emails related to your health.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is included in a full-panel testing of thyroid?

A full thyroid panel checks several things. It tests for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4). These tests measure hormone levels in the blood. This helps doctors understand how well the thyroid is working. It can also help find thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Are there any specific preparations required before taking a thyroid panel test?

• Before you take a thyroid panel test, there are a few steps to follow.
• Here are some simple tips to get ready for the test.
• Follow the fasting rules. Your healthcare provider might ask you to fast before the thyroid panel tests.
• This means you should not eat or drink anything except water for a while before the test.
• Make sure to follow any special instructions your healthcare provider gives you.
• Let your healthcare provider know about all the medications you are taking.
• This includes any supplements and herbal remedies you may be using.
• These can affect the results of your thyroid panel test.
• Timing of the test: Some healthcare providers suggest taking the thyroid panel test in the morning. This is when your thyroid hormone levels are generally stable. Make sure to follow any special timing instructions from your healthcare provider.
• Wear loose clothes.
• If you need to have blood drawn for the test, these clothes will help.
• They make it easier for the healthcare provider to reach your arm.
• Stay calm: It is important to feel relaxed before and during the test. This will help make sure your thyroid function is read correctly.

It is important to follow the steps from your healthcare provider when preparing for a thyroid panel test. Doing this helps you get clear and accurate results.

How do you interpret the results of a thyroid panel?

Interpreting thyroid panel results involves looking at several markers. These markers are TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone), T3 (Triiodothyronine), and T4 (Thyroxine). Here are some simple guidelines to help you understand these results:

• TSH levels: High TSH levels can show that you have an underactive thyroid. This condition is called hypothyroidism. Low TSH levels may suggest that you have an overactive thyroid. This condition is known as hyperthyroidism.
• T3 and T4 levels: unusual levels of these hormones can indicate issues with the thyroid. High T3 and T4 levels may suggest hyperthyroidism. In contrast, low levels could mean hypothyroidism.
• Thyroid antibodies: Certain antibodies, such as anti-TPO antibodies, may indicate that someone has an autoimmune thyroid disease. This includes conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease. Testing for thyroid antibodies is crucial for detecting these thyroid diseases.

The combination of these tests provides a complete picture of thyroid function.

• Primary Hypothyroidism: Here, TSH is high, and Free T4 or Free T3 is low.
• Primary hyperthyroidism: In this case, TSH is low, while Free T4 or Free T3 is high.
• Subclinical Hypothyroidism: In this situation, TSH is high, but Free T4 and Free T3 levels are normal.
• Subclinical hyperthyroidism: This means TSH is low, and Free T4 and Free T3 levels are normal.

Thyroid function can be affected by several things. Medications, pregnancy, and some medical conditions all play a role. A healthcare professional should review the results with the patient's overall health and symptoms in mind.

It is important to speak with a healthcare provider or endocrinologist about your thyroid panel results. They can offer advice that is right for you based on your health history and symptoms.

How can high-dose biotin supplements interfere with thyroid test results?

High doses of biotin supplements are commonly taken for hair loss. However, they might change your thyroid test results. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin found in many hair and nail items. When you take too much biotin, it can make thyroid hormone levels in blood tests look higher or lower than they actually are.

We use thyroid function tests to identify thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. However, biotin can cause issues with these tests. Biotin may mix things up and give false results. This happens because some lab tests use biotin technology. In this process, biotin links with streptavidin to check certain hormones. These hormones include triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroxine (T4).

High amounts of biotin in the blood from supplements can interfere with tests. This can cause incorrect results. For example, high biotin levels might show low TSH levels. Someone without hyperthyroidism may appear to have it.

People who take high-dose biotin supplements should tell their doctors before getting thyroid function tests. Doctors may suggest stopping biotin several days before the test to get better results. Sometimes it might be important to use different tests that biotin does not affect.

Does a Thyroid Test Require Fasting?

In many cases, fasting is not required before a thyroid test. However, it's beneficial to follow what your healthcare provider says. If your thyroid panel includes other tests, you may be asked to fast. Talk to your doctor about pre-test preparation since everyone is different. This will help you get the right results.

References

Overview of Thyroid Tests: InformedHealth Guide – NCBI

Thyroid Function Tests: An Overview – American Thyroid Association

Thyroid Blood Tests: Types, Procedures, and Preparation – Cleveland Clinic

Thyroid Function Tests: Common Assessments and Interpretation – Mount Sinai

Understanding Thyroid Function Tests – Healthline