When Should Tsh Levels Be Checked
If you have symptoms or a history of thyroid disorders, your doctor may recommend a TSH test.
If the test reveals an imbalance and you begin medication to get your levels within the standard range, your doctor will likely check your thyroid levels yearly.
If you dont have a history of thyroid disorders, your doctor may only recommend a TSH test if youre experiencing symptoms. In general, thyroid testing is recommended for older adults, especially women.
Once You Have Your Test Results
Please do not telephone the Thyroid UK office. Thyroid UK staff are not qualified to interpret the test results for you. This may be done by your NHS doctor or a private doctor or practitioner. Thyroid UK have a list of private doctors and practitioners which you can request here or if you require interpretation of your results you can book a consultation with Registered Nutritional Therapist, Melissa Cohen. Melissa Cohens prices:
30 minute consultation with a brief follow-up email £95 1 hour consultation with follow-up email to include recommendations £145
To book an appointment please email or call on 07780 955627You can find out more here: www.melissa-cohen.com
Alternatively, you could search for a nutritional therapist on or you can join ouronline community and discuss your test results with other members.
How Can I Check My Thyroid At Home
To check your thyroid at home, order an online test, which you will receive by mail. Once you receive your kit, carefully read and follow the instructions, which may specify the time of day to do the test.
In addition to written directions, companies may provide instructional videos and online tutorials. Contact the company or a healthcare professional before taking the test if you have questions or if any of the information is unclear.
Most tests require using a lancet to prick your finger and collect a blood sample. Drop the blood onto a test strip or into a small tube before sending it to the laboratory. Youll usually receive your electronic results within a week.
Recommended Reading: Thyroid And Menopause Weight Gain
Why Would Someone Use An At
First, the kits might be an easy way to get a first glance at your thyroid health, especially if you have a sneaking suspicion that something could be off.
The kits are a great option for anyone looking to get more information on their thyroid function. They can be ordered by the consumer rather than having to go to a doctor to send your lab requisition, says endocrinolgist Sapna Shah MD of Paloma Health.
People experience all types of side effects from poor thyroid health, and starting with a thyroid screening can help to narrow things down and get to the root of the issue, Dr. Shapiro adds. On the flip side, theyre also for people who might already have a diagnosed condition and require regular lab results, he also notes.
When getting to a lab is difficult at-home tests can be a nice way to access care and information, says Dr. Shah.
And then theres the aspect of social distancing and safety: People are leaning towards at-home treatments now more than ever because of COVID, Dr. Shapiro says. Staying out of busy waiting rooms is a good enough reason alone.
At-home thyroid tests can also help cut down on costs and co-pays, as the test itself can be bought for a single fee. For example, the Everlywell kit tests for three main thyroid hormones: TSH, T3, and T4, as well as thyroid antibodies. It costs $99, which could be less than a doctors visit, copay, lab costs, or any potential out-of-network fees, depending on your health coverage.
For Testing Reverse T3 And Vitamin D: Paloma Health Complete Thyroid Test Kit
Price: $99
This test checks TSH, T3, and T4 levels and screens for thyroid antibodies.
Paloma Health states this test is suitable for people who have received a diagnosis of a thyroid condition or believe they may have one.
The company offers additional testing for reverse T3 and vitamin D levels. Individuals can add this to their purchase when choosing their test.
A licensed doctor reviews each test in the United States. Individuals will receive their test results within 5 business days of the sample reaching the laboratory.
Paloma Health notes that this test is only available for those who are over 18 years of age. The test is currently not available to those outside the U.S., nor is it available to those who live in New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island.
It may not be possible to get insurance coverage when buying Paloma Health at-home tests. However, a person can contact their insurance provider to check whether they can cover some of the costs of the thyroid test. They can also pay using their FSA and HSA.
You May Like: What Are The 5 Thyroid Tests
What You Need To Watch Out For
Costs: Health insurance rarely covers the cost of home bloodspot testing, and only some insurers reimburse all or part of DTC testing. In most cases, the costs can, however, be paid from flexible spending and health savings accounts
Overlooking or misinterpreting errors in your test results: A 2017 article in the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Research explained that even under the best of circumstances, test results can have errors. Physicians may be able to detect those mistakes and make the necessary adjustments in diagnosis. Consumers, on the other hand, may not have that same level of knowledge and could make decisions based on incorrect information. Health conditions can worsenor be overlookedas a result.
Poor healthcare decisions: Some patients may decide on their own to increase or decrease the dosage of prescribed medications, or stop treatments all together, based on test results. Experts caution against making these types of healthcare decisions without first consulting your healthcare provider and having confirmatory testing.”The tests are reliable and use the exact same testing labs that I use, so I have no problem using the test results,” says integrative physician David Borenstein, M.D., founder of Manhattan Integrative Medicine in New York City. “However, I’ve had patients order thousands of dollars of tests that turned out to be unrelated and completely unnecessary.”
Equal Lab Quality To Hospitals & Gps
Your finger-prick blood sample is analysed by a UKAS accredited laboratory for professional analysis by health practitioners.
These labs are also trusted by NHS hospitals, private clinics & general practitioners.
All tests are CE marked and processes meet & exceed NIHR GCP standards. Quality is guaranteed.
You May Like: If Thyroid Levels Are High
Are Tsh Tests Accurate
The accuracy of thyroid blood tests varies. Some factors may affect your results, such as an illness, medications, supplements, fasting, and pregnancy.
For this reason, endocrinologists recommend testing TSH twice to confirm hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. TSH is a more stable hormone, while T4 and T3 levels can vary more over a day and from day to day.
When possible, an at-home test should be followed-up by a conversation with a health professional and a lab test ordered by a doctor to confirm the results.
The Basal Body Temperature Test
The basal body temperature test was first pioneered by Dr. Broda Barnes who was one of the early American physicians to recognize that hypothyroidism was being severely undiagnosed by modern medicine.
He spent more than 50 years researching and proving that hypothyroidism was the underlying cause of heart disease today.
Even though nobody has been able to invalidate his research, his work has been, and continues to be, completely ignored by the medical community today.
In 1942 he published a study demonstrating the effectiveness of basal temperature in diagnosing hypothyroidism and its ability to prevent wrong diagnoses that have led to unnecessary operations to remove the thyroid gland which can lead to severe health complications.
You May Like: Why Does Armour Thyroid Cost So Much
Who Should Take The Thyroid Function Blood Test
Assess thyroid function and indicate abnormal thyroid activity using a home finger-prick blood test kit.
You get the convenience of home testing with the reassurance of professional clinical analysis. Your results are delivered quickly & securely online.
This Thyroid Function Test is advised if you:
- have a low sex drive & loss of libido
- are experiencing hair loss
Take a complete health check-up with Vitall.
% Accurate Thyroid Lab Tests
It should come as no surprise to you that you would want your thyroid lab tests to be as accurate as possible when it comes to evaluating your thyroid, right?
I don’t think anyone would argue on that particular point.
But what is interesting is that most doctors don’t seem to understand some of the more basic things that can interfere with thyroid lab testing.
And with our current climate of undertreated and unhappy thyroid patients ), wouldn’t it make sense to make sure that our testing is not only reliable but accurate?
The truth is simple:
If you don’t get an accurate evaluation of your thyroid with your lab tests then how on earth are you going to reliably make changes to your thyroid medication dose?
How will you know if you are on the right track? How will you know if you should increase your dose or decrease it?
All of these topics, especially with the reliance upon simple thyroid tests by conventional doctors, should cause you to be very concerned about the accuracy of your thyroid lab tests.
What you may not realize is that there are MANY factors which can negatively impact the accuracy of these labs including when they are drawn, what time of day they are taken, whether or not you are fasting, when they are drawn in relation to when you took your medication, and more.
And you, as a thyroid patient, should be aware of these factors because the chances are high that your doctor isn’t!
You May Like: How To Fix Thyroid Problems Naturally
Even Normal Thyroid Test Results Can Be Misleading
Should your thyroid test results indicate that youre in the normal range say 5.5 you may still have an underactive thyroid if you would have tested at 9 in your younger years. At 5.5, you may feel very tired, yet your doctor will tell you that your test results are normal.
Another reason that the tests are often inaccurate is because they only show what your thyroid hormone levels are on the day of testing. Your thyroid is a tricky organ to both diagnose and treat since its hormone levels fluctuate all the time. What you eat each day has a tremendous and immediate impact on it, and how much hormone it secretes.
Thyroid tests also dont indicate if your thyroid hormone is really entering your cells. Your thyroid may be manufacturing plenty of hormone, but your cells may have become resistant to the hormone and arent able to utilize it.
Summary Of Our Recommendations
Winner: LetsGetChecked
Our evaluation of cost had a lot more to do with value than who had the lowest price. Technically, the least expensive thyroid test comes from Healthlabs, but it pales compared to its competitors in terms of thoroughness and convenience. And while the LetsGetChecked test is about $20 more than similar tests by Paloma Health and Everlywell, its measurement of thyroglobulin antibodies makes it the best value in the bunch.
Heres a quick breakdown of basic costs:
Recommended Reading: How To Regulate Your Thyroid
Whats Included In A Full Thyroid Panel
A full thyroid panel usually checks thyroid-stimulating hormone , triiodothyronine , and thyroxine levels. In some cases, a blood test for thyroid function will also check your bloodâs level of TPO antibodies. If you have abnormal thyroid hormone levels, high levels of TPO antibodies can point to an autoimmune thyroid disease as a possible reason for those abnormal levels.
The Accuracy Of Thyroid Test Results Can Be Hindered By A Genetic Component Too
Unless youve undergone genetic testing and have interpreted the results specific to your thyroid function, theres no way of knowing if you have the FOXE1 gene that has been correlated with various thyroid disorders, including autoimmune thyroid disease and hypothyroidism.
While lifestyle factors do play a more significant role than genetics in thyroid function, understanding your genetic road map can provide a clearer picture of your thyroid health.
In the past few years, researchers have explored the influence an individuals gene signature can have on the thyroid. Using a new genetic test, a Chilean research team was able to consistently diagnose thyroid nodules, or benign growths, to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention in the thyroid cancer screening process.3
A newer study also found that cell phone radiation may increase thyroid cancer risk among those with certain genetic variations .4 Amazingly, trained scent dogs have detected the presence of thyroid cancer in urine samples with over 88 percent accuracy.5
While this innovative form of testing coupled with genetic testing may provide hope for the early diagnosis of more serious thyroid conditions, including cancer, basic thyroid testing used to measure day-to-day thyroid function still leaves much to be desired.
Ready to learn more about your health? Our BE 101 courses offer the tools for transformation.
Don’t Miss: What Is Thyroid Blood Test
Challenges Associated With Testing Thyroid Function
The perfect thyroid test would analyze the levels of thyroid hormones in all of the bodys cells. Unfortunately, this is not possible. Instead, we have to infer information about hormone levels in the cells by measuring levels in the blood.
The difficulties with thyroid testing are often a result of this indirect measuring not effectively communicating complex interactions and processes at a cellular level. For example, the body cells might not be actively taking in the hormones, as the receptors have become resistant. This would mean the blood levels of the hormone would appear normal but may still cause unpleasant or dangerous symptoms.
If you suspect you might have a problem with your thyroid, a doctor will investigate by recording your symptoms and examining your neck to feel if your thyroid might be enlarged. This can be a good indicator of thyroid disease. Usually, blood tests can analyze the amount of thyroid hormones in circulation.
What Thyroid Testing Is Accurate
In the 1920s and 1930s there were many thyroid testing markers that were observed when doctors at that time were diagnosing hypothyroidism.
And most are still valid today.
However, other tests have also been developed and improved upon over the years that are even simpler and more accurate.
One such test which we use with each and every one of our clients can be done for free and in the comfort of your own home.
And in the Ultimate Thyroid Testing Protocol, well show you exactly how you can use this test yourself and track your thyroid health as you go.
This protocol is simple and easy enough for anyone to use.
If youre not already using it, then I highly recommend you start now.
And next time you get your thyroid tested you might want to reconsider whether your results are as accurate as you and your doctor might think.
If you do nothing else, then be sure to use the more accurate guideline provided and make sure your TSH is below 1.5 mIU/L.
In my experience, a TSH closer to 1 mIU/L or below is even better.
Read Also: Different Types Of Thyroid Tests
Rapid At Home Thyroid Tests
There are a number of rapid at home thyroid tests on the market. They work by taking a few drops of blood and dropping them onto a rapid immunodiagnostic self-test kit, a bit like you do with the Covid-19 Lateral Flow Tests.
The rapid thyroid test kits come with:
- 1x Small bottle containing 1ml of diluent
- 1-2x Sterile lancets to obtain a blood sample
- 1x Instruction leaflet
The process works by pricking your finger with the lancet, collecting a few drops of blood using the micropipette, then dropping the contents of the micropipette onto the test cassette followed by around 6 drops of the test diluent. You then wait 10 minutes for your result.
How The Tsh Test Is Failing 45% Of Women
Based on the work of Dr. Broda Barnes, whose research proved that hypothyroidism is the cause of modern day heart disease, we now have even more research to help us determine what the truly accurate TSH reference range should be.
For example, the study below is one of many studies that gives us more insight.
Thyrotropin levels and risk of fatal coronary heart disease: the HUNT study.
Compared with women in the lower part of the reference range , the hazard ratios for coronary death were 1.41 and 1.69 for women in the intermediate and higher categories, respectively.
This study found that for women, TSH level can predict your risk of heart disease and that a
- THS between 1.5-2.4 mIU/L resulted in a 41% increased risk of heart disease.
- TSH between 2.5-3.5 mIU/L resulted in a 69% increased risk of heart disease.
In other words, if your TSH is 1.5 mIU/L or higher, your risk of heart disease is significantly increased.
So, based on Dr. Broda Barnes research, we know that the true normal TSH must be below 1.5 mIU/L.
And this is where things get interesting
Based on further TSH population studies we know that roughly 50% of women have a TSH above 1.5 mIU/L and 50% of women have a TSH below 1.5 mIU/L.
This is illustrated in the graph below.
If you look at the new red shaded area above, this represents the new percentage of the population that should be diagnosed hypothyroid.
Don’t Miss: Thyroid Medication With T3 And T4
The Best Home Thyroid Tests Of 2022
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Testing for health conditions at home is becoming increasingly popular. Before buying an at-home thyroid test, a person should consider which hormones the test detects, how much it costs, and how quickly the results arrive.
This article looks at a range of home thyroid tests a person can consider and looks into whether home thyroid tests work. It also discusses some of the most frequently asked questions about home thyroid tests.