Thyroid Health Blood Test
Your thyroid is essential to your health and wellbeing. From how fast your heart beats to how quickly your body burns calories, your thyroid directly influences things as subtle as your mood and as vital as your fertility.
This test measures both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Free T4 (thyroxine) to assess thyroid function and can screen for specific thyroid conditions, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
TSH and T4 levels work interdependently (and often inversely) rising or falling in response to one another. For example, low T4 levels often cause TSH levels to rise signaling hypothyroidism, while high T4 levels often cause TSH to drop signaling
Preparation
If you’re taking a supplement containing biotin (also called vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R), commonly found in products promoting nail, skin, and hair health, it is recommended that you wait at least 72 hours from your last dose before sample collection.
What's Included
A hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine), two hormones that play critical roles in controlling the body’s metabolism.
A hormone produced by the thyroid gland, in conjunction with Triiodothyronine T3, that is responsible for regulating body temperature, heart rate, and metabolism.
Why Consider This Test
Specific Thyroid Concerns
Tests that measure both TSH and T4 can be used together to screen for and help diagnose thyroid conditions, including hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (an over-active thyroid).2
Female Health and Fertility
Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. Hypothyroidism is a leading cause of difficulty in achieving and maintaining pregnancy.2
Proactive Prevention
Undiagnosed thyroid disease may put patients at risk for certain serious conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and infertility. Most thyroid conditions can be managed with medication.2
References
- “Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).” Lab Tests Online, The American Association for Clinical Chemistry, www.labtestsonline.org/tests/thyroid-stimulating-hormone-tsh?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4qvlBRDiARIsAHme6ou6S5VEYTZWydE3z5j-0taZURMhSNPtt-iZ2FXrLTtqUQyN46rDsyIaAuwgEALw_wcB.
- American Thyroid Association. “General Information/Press Room.” American Thyroid Association, www.thyroid.org/media-main/press-room/.
How To Get This Test
1. Choose your tests
Shop for tests and pay online. An independent physician will review and approve your test requests; no doctor’s visit is required.
2. Provide Your Sample
Take the requisition number we emailed you, along with a photo ID, to a Labcorp location for sample collection.
3. Access your results online
View your easy-to-read results online in your Pixel by Labcorp account. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
Getting My Results
We've made getting your results easier and more convenient than ever. View your easy-to-read results online in your Pixel by Labcorp account. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail. To view a sample report click the "sample report" button below.
