Why Have your Thyroid Tested
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 under active.
What Biomarkers Are Tested
TSH: A TSH test is a lab test that measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It tells the thyroid gland to make and release thyroid hormones into the blood.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies: Measurement of thyroglobulin antibodies is useful in the diagnosis and management of a variety of thyroid disorders including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves Disease and certain types of goiter.
T4 (Thyroxine), Total : This test measures the amount of thyroxine, or T4, in the blood. T4 is one of two major hormones produced by the thyroid gland. The total T4 test is used to help diagnose hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. It is a useful test but can be affected by the amount of protein available in the blood to bind to the hormone.
T4 Free: The free T4 test is not affected by protein levels. Since free T4 is the active form of thyroxine, the free T4 test is may be a more accurate reflection of thyroid hormone function.
T3 Total: Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body's control of metabolism.
T3 Reverse, LC/MS/MS: Reverse T3 produced in the thyroid comes from the conversion of the storage hormone T4. Your body, especially the liver, can constantly be converting T4 to RT3 as a way to get rid of any unneeded T4. In any given day approx. 40% of T4 goes to T3 and 20% of T4 goes to Reverse T3. However in any situation where your body needs to conserve energy and focus on something else, it will change the above percentages, changing the conversion of RT3 to 50% or more, and the T3 goes down, down. Examples are emotional, physical, or biological stress, such as being chronically or acutely sick (the flu, pneumonia, etc), after surgery, after a car accident or any acute injury, chronic stress causing high cortisol, being exposed to an extremely cold environment, diabetes, aging, or even being on drugs like beta blockers and amiodarone.
What To Expect
Upon purchase, one of our team members will reach out to you within 24 hours to provide you with your requisition form, lab test instructions, and a lab testing site near your home. Once we receive your lab test results (it usually takes about two weeks after your blood draw), a NutriCore doctor will contact you to walk through your results and outline the next steps in your custom health plan.
Specimen Type: Single whole blood collection
NOTE: This lab is not currently available in New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey or if you live outside of the United States. If you live in one of these regions, we cannot order labs. However, we can partner with you and give you physician level advice and coaching to optimize your health. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our office by calling 586-703-0228.
