Normal Range For Thyroid Antibodies

An Antibody Test Can Help Your Doctor Figure Out If Your Immune System Is Attacking The Thyroid Gland Or If Something Else Might Be The Cause

In countries where iodine deficiency is common not the US the reference range may be higher 5 6 7. The presence of TPO antibodies in your blood suggests that the cause of thyroid disease is an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimotos disease or Graves disease. Any value that is higher than. Ad Learn More About Hypothyroidism How It Can Be Managed With A Treatment.

If your TSH level sits outside this reference range you probably. The reference ranges for antithyroid antibodies are as follows. Easy To Use Self Test Kits. It depends on the type of thyroid antibody alongside a variety of factors.

I take 90 mcg or 3 pills a day. What is a normal range for thyroid antibodies. If the TSH becomes undetectable may cause osteoporosis and long-term harm to. However thyroid peroxidase antibodies.

150 385 ngmL for women. The antibodies produced are. Free T4 is at the lowest of the normal range and free T3 is mid range. They might also order antibodies testing for.

Ad Thyroid supplements designed specifically for thyroid patients with over 2000 reviews. TSH is mid range. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies TPO. According to Thyroid UK the reference range for Tg Ab.

However the normal range can greatly vary. 5 rows Antibodies are proteins that form in the blood in response to invasion by foreign proteins. Discover The Early Detection Signs That Arise When One Begins Developing Thyroid Cancer. No Clinic No Appointments.

Setting The Reference Limit For Thyroid Autoantibodies Positivity

Considering that the manufacturer’s cutoff might not be adequate, a control group of 55 age- and sex-matched subjects in whom thyroid disorders had been excluded by a complete thyroid work-up was recruited. The results of samples found to be below the limit of detection were arbitrarily estimated to be 10UI/ml. In a control group, the mean±s.d. circulating levels of thyroid autoantibodies were 14.11±9.76UI/ml for Tg Abs and 14.74±8.98UI/ml for TPO Abs. On this basis, the cut-off for defining a positive test was chosen for Tg Abs and TPO Abs at > 2 s.d. of the mean level found in the control group .

According to these in house-established reference limits, five out of 55 and one out of 55 patients with SN-CAT displayed above normal titers for Tg Abs and TPO Abs respectively. Statistical analysis performed after exclusion of these six patients confirmed the results obtained when the whole study group was taken into account. Thus, we decided not to exclude the above-mentioned six patients.

Triiodothyronine Or T3 Hormone

T3 tests measure the levels of T3 hormone converted from T4. Similar to T4 tests, total T3 tests measure both bound and free triiodothyronine levels. T3 tests help understand the line of treatment for hyperthyroidism and determine the severity of high thyroid levels in the body.

Hyperthyroidism is often connected to high T3 levels. The proportion of T3 and T4 varies and can help diagnose thyroid conditions. For instance, an increase in T3 to T4 indicates Graves disease. Certain medical conditions and steroids lead to T4 conversion to T3. T3 levels are usually low in people with hypothyroidism. Evaluations of free T3 are often not preferred and reliable.

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What Blood Tests Are Done To Test Thyroid

The blood tests done to assess thyroid hormones include:

Testing For T3 T4 And Tsh Levels

Here at PrimeHealth, we administer a more robust set of thyroid function tests than most of the medical community. Many conventional primary care doctors and endocrinologists tend to only focus on TSH levels.

Additionally, its important to take into account optimal levels versus reference range levels. Thats why we administer a more thorough panel of tests.

Also, keep in mind that if youre taking thyroid medications, the time from your last dose will change the way we interpret your lab values. Your provider may have you test your thyroid panel before or after taking your medication in the morning to assess your thyroid levels at various times during the day.

We believe the most accurate and thorough way to test for thyroid function is to measure:

• Anti-thyroglobulin and anti-TPO antibodies
• Thyroid-binding globulin

Important: Make sure youre not taking biotin when testing for thyroid hormone levels. This popular supplement for hair and nail growth can interfere with test results.

What are normal TSH test results? The normal range of thyroid test results is 0.5-5.0 mIU/L, but we recommend TSH levels stay under 2.5 mIU/L. If your TSH level sits outside this reference range, you probably suffer from a thyroid disorder that needs to be treated.

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Thyroglobulin Antibodies Vs Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies

Weve spent our time here talking about one of the major antibodies that your body can develop to attack your thyroid gland but its not the only one.

Another important antibody is known as anti TPO antibody or anti thyroid peroxidase antibody.

Thyroid peroxidase is a protein found inside of thyroid cells which helps your body create thyroid hormone.

Thyroglobulin is found in the same place but serves a slightly different function.

Antibodies to both thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase can impair thyroid hormone production and function in slightly different ways.

So both antibodies are important when testing for the autoimmune disease known as Hashimotos thyroiditis.

But you should be aware that not everyone who has elevated thyroglobulin antibodies will necessarily have elevated TPO antibodies and vice versa.

Its possible for you to have only ONE set of antibodies present and elevated and the other to be completely normal.

In fact, statistically speaking, its more common for TPO antibodies to be elevated and present than it is for thyroglobulin antibodies to be elevated by itself.

It doesnt necessarily mean anything, though, as BOTH antibodies have been associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and you should aggressively try to treat and manage either or both if they are elevated.

Whats interesting is that each of these antibodies targets different portions of the thyroid and, therefore, thyroid function.

Thyroid Questions Let Us Answer Them

Now you know all about normal thyroid hormone levels and when you need to seek treatment.

PrimeHealth is devoted to answering peoples questions about medical conditions and autoimmune diseases, like Hashimotos thyroiditis. We believe its important to make patients feel heard and educate them on what is going on in their bodies.

Did you know? A lot of peoples hypothyroidism can be permanently cured. Even what conventional doctors might call permanent hypothyroidism may be treatable. Our patients prove it.

To schedule a FREE phone consultation with a member of our medical staff, schedule your appointment today.

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Certain Conditions Can Make Your Thyroglobulin Antibody High

Even though antithyroglobulin antibodies are not the best predictor of thyroid disorders, they should not necessarily be ignored. Unlike TPO antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies are not able to stimulate an immune response in the thyroid, but they may be useful in diagnosing certain thyroid conditions .

Anti-TG antibody levels may show importance in the following:

• Patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma who have elevated TG antibodies may be at a higher risk of the cancer spreading to lymph nodes or surrounding organs. Elevated levels may also indicate a high risk of thyroid cancer recurrence after treatment [4
• Trusted SourcePubMedGo to source].

One study found that after successfully treating thyroid disease, thyroglobulin levels dropped back down into normal reference ranges . It is important to point out that this study tested the actual levels of thyroglobulin protein, not the TG-antibody levels.

However, this finding is consistent with another study that found elevated anti-TG antibodies to correlate with the severity of hypothyroid symptoms, including fragile hair, swelling of the face and eyes, and vocal hoarseness [3

Thyroglobulin autoantibodies may not be the best indicator of thyroid disease, but likely will continue to be useful in the screening and monitoring of select conditions.

What Does It Mean If Your Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies Result Is Too High

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are autoantibodies, which means the body mistakenly produces these antibodies that act against a normal protein, TPO. As such, thyroglobulin antibodies usually indicate an autoimmune disease. TPO antibodies are present in roughly 90% of people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and in half to three-quarters of people with Graves’ disease. Thyroglobulin antibodies may be detectable in people without symptoms of thyroid hormone imbalance . When hypothyroidism causes symptoms, it may cause weakness and fatigue, cold intolerance, shortness of breath, weight gain, constipation, cognitive problems, dry skin, hoarseness, and swelling . In about 10% of cases, TPO antibodies will be detectable in non-autoimmune thyroid disease such as pernicious anemia and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Some specific causes of thyroid peroxidase antibodies are:

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis/chronic autoimmune hypothyroidism

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Thyroid Antibody Test Results

Antibody levels can be tested with a blood sample. The antibody test measures the amount of antibody per milliliter or liter of blood in “international units.”

Normal values are:

• TPO antibody: Less than 9 IU/mL
• Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin antibody : Less than 1.75 IU/L
• Anti-Tg antibody: Less than 4 IU/mL

Note that different laboratories may have different normal range values.

Thyroglobulin And Iodine Levels

Thyroglobulin is a protein secreted by the thyroid gland that aids in the production and storage of thyroid hormones. TG fluctuates with iodine levels, and high thyroglobulin levels may be an indicator of iodine deficiency or excess .

Iodine is a nutrient that is essential for the proper functioning of our thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency is an independent risk factor for underactive thyroid and can even lead to the development of a goiter and thyroid nodules [7

Excess iodine blood levels can create toxicity symptoms, such as stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, and neurological dysfunction. Therefore, screening thyroglobulin levels may be useful in detecting abnormal iodine levels, as iodine is not routinely run on blood tests.

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What Your Tpo Antibodies Test Results Mean

The normal range for TPO Antibodies is less than 35 IU/mL.

A null to minimal TPO Antibody test means that your blood does not contain TPO antibodies. This normally insinuates that the causes of your thyroid symptoms are not due to an auto-immune disease. However, if these conditions are suspected then, a recurring test may be recommended.

When the levels are mildly elevated, this can be caused by many thyroid conditions like thyroid cancer, type-1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as auto-immune collagen vascular disease.

High levels of TPO Antibodies are usually caused by an autoimmune disease like the Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Graves Disease, pernicious anemia, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It has been reported that almost 3% of people who have a positive TPO test result do not show any symptom.

If levels are high in a pregnant woman, this may lead to higher risks of developing hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in the newborn baby.

What More Should I Know About Thyroid Blood Tests

Ranges noted here are approximate your providers may differ slightly. Its important that you remember abnormal readings do not necessarily mean a thyroid disorder is present, as each test can be affected by a variety of factors.

No preparation is required for these tests. They can be taken any time of day without fasting.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/27/2019.

References

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Additional Blood Tests For Thyroid

Other thyroid hormone tests that may be a part of standard thyroid checkups or opted when required to evaluate possible causes of certain conditions include:

• Reverse T3 or RT3 tests: This test measures the inactive form of the T3 hormone in the body. This test can help detect problems with thyroid control or understand problems with abnormal thyroid hormones not related to the thyroid.
• Thyroglobulin or Tgtests: Measures thyroglobulin, a protein made by the thyroid gland to help guide thyroid cancer treatment. In the journal, Thyroid, a research article showsthat 4% of people with Tg protein under 1 could see a recurrence of cancer after five years.
• Thyroid antibodies: Thyroid diseases can be due to autoimmune factors where the immune system, by mistake targets and attacks the healthy thyroid cells. The antibodies produced are checked and matched to find if the condition is an autoimmune disease.

The three common antibodies associated with the autoimmune thyroid condition are:

What Is Thyroglobulin Antibody

In order to understand what thyroglobulin antibodies are, we first have to talk about thyroglobulin itself.

Thyroglobulin is a protein the thyroid gland uses to create T3 and T4 or thyroid hormones. Doctors often check thyroglobulin levels in people who received thyroid cancer treatment .

The immune system may mistakenly identify thyroglobulin as a harmful substance. In turn, it produces antibodies to attack thyroglobulin, otherwise known as TgAb .

According to some estimates, about 10% of the general population produces at least some TgAb. This rate goes up to 80% in those with thyroid disorders, such as in Hashimotos or Graves disease. Thats why TgAb are used as a marker of autoimmune thyroid problems .

Thyroglobulin antibodies can bind to thyroid cells, but its not entirely clear if they cause damage. These antibodies mostly become a problem when trying to measure thyroglobulin, as they skew thyroglobulin test results .

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Can I Take The Test At Home

Test kits are available that allow patients to test for certain thyroid antibodies at home. These kits provide the supplies needed for obtaining a blood sample and returning it to the company for analysis.

Some kits include one or more thyroid antibody tests as part of a panel of thyroid tests, while others test only for TPOAb or TgAb. At-home tests for TRAb may not be commercially available at this time.

Thyroid antibody tests are difficult to interpret and may be unnecessary if other thyroid tests are normal. If an abnormal level of thyroid antibodies is detected on an at-home test, it is likely that an endocrinologist will want the test to be repeated.

In-depth information about at-home thyroid testing is available at the At-Home Thyroid Testing page.

Symptoms Of A Thyroid Issue

What are the symptoms of a thyroid problem? The symptoms of a thyroid problem comes from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, both caused by unbalanced thyroid levels. Thyroid disease symptoms include:

• Enlarged thyroid

Graves disease or Hashimotos thyroiditis can lead to dangerously high or dangerously low thyroid hormone levels, respectively. There are many triggers for Graves or Hashimotos.

Its crucial to know if a patients thyroid imbalance is due to Hashimotos or Graves disease these are autoimmune conditions with a significantly different root cause and treatment strategy than thyroid disease which is not autoimmune in nature.

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What The Results Mean

Blood test results are processed within a week. In some cases, doctors receive them within a few days. Your doctor will explain your specific results to you. A test that comes back as negative for antithyroid microsomal antibodies is considered a normal result. These antibodies are usually not found in a healthy immune system.

If you have an autoimmune disease or thyroid disorder, your antibody levels may rise. A positive test indicates an abnormal result and may be due to a variety of conditions, including:

• Hashimotos thyroiditis, which is a swelling of the thyroid gland that often results in reduced thyroid function
• Graves disease, which is an autoimmune disorder in which the thyroid gland is overactive
• granulomatous thyroiditis, or subacute thyroiditis, which is a swelling of the thyroid gland that usually follows an upper respiratory infection
• autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which is a drop in the number of red blood cells due to increased destruction by the immune system
• nontoxic nodular goiter, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland with cysts called nodules
• Sjogrens syndrome, which is an autoimmune disorder in which the glands that produce tears and saliva are damaged
• systemic lupus erythematosus, which is a long-term autoimmune disorder affecting your skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs

• difficulty with in vitro fertilization

What More Should I Know About Thyroid Tests

Thyroid hormone levels change during pregnancy and due to certain medical conditions. They also differ concerning the age and gender of an individual. Your healthcare provider will help monitor and assess thyroid levels. They will guide you on ways to balance these hormones and help maintain normal ranges.

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Clinical Characteristics Of The Control And Ait Groups

The clinical characteristics of the participants are summarized in Table 1. The control and AIT groups did not significantly differ in age, gender, BMI, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG. The levels of FBG and FINS were also statistically the same between the two groups. AIT patients had significantly lower FT3 and FT4 levels, and higher TSH, TPOAb, and TgAb levels, compared with the controls . The increased levels of hsCRP and HOMA-IR were observed in the AIT patients compared with the controls .

Table 1. Clinical characteristics of the control and AIT groups.

Improve Your Gut Health

Preliminary evidence suggests that gut health is closely linked to thyroid health and that improving gut health can decrease thyroid antibodies and balance your thyroid hormones. Here are several ways you can work on improving your gut health.

• Anti-Inflammatory Diet: A low-quality diet is typically the single biggest source of inflammation that can impair your thyroid and immune function. But encouragingly, early evidence shows that changing your diet can lower thyroid antibodies.A low-carbohydrate diet was shown in one study to reduce thyroid antibodies by 44% in people with Hashimotos thyroiditis, but not celiac disease , while a gluten-free diet was shown to reduce thyroid antibodies in a group of women with Hashimotos thyroiditis . Other studies have shown that eliminating dairy or gluten may help improve thyroid function [14

• For more on supplements to support thyroid function, see How Should I Use Thyroid Supplements?

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