This test reveals imbalances that often go undetected with more limited assessments. With this test. unbound levels of T4 and T3 are measured to reflect the bioactive portion of thyroid hormone. This assessment can identify not only overt hyper- and hypothyroidism, but subtle sub-clinical manifestations of thyroid dysfunction, such as autoimmune reactions and altered conversion of T4 into T3 leading to reverse T3 dominance. These metabolic abnormalities can trigger chronic symptoms, and promote the gradual development of degenerative disorders.
The complete thyroid blood test assesses the following:
- Hypersensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- free thyroxine (fT4)
- free triiodothyronine (fT3)
- reverse T3 (rT3)
- anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG)
- anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO)
- fT4/fT3
- fT3/rT3
Thyroid blood tests are used to evaluate symptoms of fatigue, depression, coldness, hair loss, headaches, PMS, menstrual irregularities, fluid retention, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, anxiety or panic attacks, decreased memory or concentration, muscle and joint pain, low libido, and infertility.
It can uncover thyroid imbalances occuring secondary to other conditions, such as nutritional deficiency, heavy metal exposure, adrenal stress, enzyme deficiencies, and other chronic disorders. Any of these conditions can can result in "functional hypothyroidism", also known as euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS), low T3 syndrome, or Wilson's syndrome.
Thyroid antibody levels associated with diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, or postpartum thyroiditis.
What does this test involve?
This test involves a blood sample that is sent to the lab for analysis.
How can I get this test done?
Talk to your health care professional about your symptoms and ask if this test would be useful for you. It can be done through: Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory.
