Is your thyroid self-destructing?
This thyroid panel provides more in-depth screening of thyroid function and looks for evidence of autoimmune disease with a thyroid antibodies test. The hormones produced by the thyroid regulate metabolism - the rate at which the body uses energy. The body has a feedback system that turns thyroid hormone production on and off and maintains a stable amount of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream. When thyroid antibodies interfere with this process, it can lead to chronic conditions such as Hashimoto thyroiditis or Graves' disease.
A thyroid antibodies test reveals situations where the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid and can lead to chronic inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis), tissue damage, and disruption of thyroid function. An underactive or hypothyroid can cause symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, intolerance to cold, and constipation. Conversely an overactive or hyperthyroid can cause sweating, rapid heart rate, anxiety, tremors, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and sudden weight loss.
What we test
Thyroid Function
Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate growth and energy expenditure. Thyroid disorders are quite common, and many people don’t have any symptoms at all. This thyroid test screens for the thyroid hormones that play a key role in regulating the body’s metabolism.
Communicates with the thyroid gland to produce T3 and T4 which regulate metabolic functions. High TSH thyroid test levels indicates an underactive thyroid, and low levels an overactive thyroid.
Measures the thyroxine that is freely circulating and able to regulate metabolism. High FT4 thyroid test levels indicate an overactive thyroid, and low levels an underactive thyroid.
Measures the triiodothyronine that is freely circulating. High FT3 thyroid test levels indicate an overactive thyroid, and low levels an underactive thyroid.
Reverse T3
Reverse T3 (rT3) is virtually inactive having only 1% the activity of T3 and blocks the action of T3 acting as a metabolic break. Normal metabolism of T4 requires the appropriate balance of T3 to rT3. If the proportion of rT3 dominates then it will antagonise T3 thus producing hypothyroid symptoms despite sufficient circulating levels of T4 and T3.
Reverse T3 is an inactive form of the thyroid hormone T3. rT3 does not bind to thyroid hormone receptors and does not exert the same physiological effects. rT3 levels may be be increased during periods of stress, illness, or calorie restriction.
Thyroid Antibodies (with TSI)
In addition to screening for the thyroid hormones that play a key role in regulating metabolism, this advanced thyroid function test detects and measures the quantity of specific thyroid autoantibodies to determine whether autoimmune disease may be impacting thyroid function.
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies work against thyroid peroxidase, an enzyme that plays a part in the T4-to-T3 conversion and synthesis process. TPO antibodies can be evidence of tissue destruction, such as Hashimoto's disease.
When your immune system attacks the thyroid it often targets thyroglobulin which causes it to produce antithyroglobulin antibodies. Thyroglobulin antibodies are positive in about 60% of Hashimoto’s patients and 30% of Graves patients.
High levels of TSH Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) can indicate Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland.
Test instructions
Download and print your pathology form from your i-screen dashboard.
Take your form to one of our affiliated collection centres to have your sample taken.
You do not need to fast for this blood test.
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