If you have symptoms that suggest a thyroid disorder your doctor will usually start by requesting a TSH test which measures the amount of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in your blood. If your TSH level is high or low, you may need to have a Free T4 test and/or a Free T3 test to identify the problem. The Free T3 test measures the amount of free triiodothyronine in your blood.
Your thyroid makes hormones that are important for many of your body's functions. How your thyroid is working affects your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Metabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy for breathing, blood circulation, body temperature control, brain and nerve function and more.
There are two main hormones produced by the thyroid. These are T4 and T3. They circulate in your blood and it is important that levels stay constant to keep your metabolism running and in balance. There is a feedback loop to make sure they don't get too high or too low.
If you have symptoms that suggest you have a thyroid problem your doctor will start by ordering a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test.
If your TSH level is high or low, you may need to have a Free T4 test to identify the problem and sometimes a free triiodothyronine (FT3) test may also be requested.
T3 makes up less than 10 percent of thyroid hormones produced but it is about four times as strong as T4.
A ‘free’ T4 or T3 test refers to the fact that hormones are circulating freely and available to be absorbed by body tissues.
Blood
Any preparation?
None
Reading your test report
Your results will be presented along with those of your other tests on the same form. You will see separate columns or lines for each of these tests.
FT3 is used mainly to help diagnose hyperthyroidism when your thyroid produces too much hormone and you have an overactive thyroid.
FT3 is not usually helpful if your doctor thinks you have hypothyroidism when your thyroid produces too little hormone.
The T3 level can become abnormal earlier than T4 and return to normal later than T4. This test may also be used for monitoring of patients on T3 therapy.
Patterns of thyroid function test results and their most common causes.
TSH | FT4 | FT3 | Interpretation |
Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal thyroid function |
High | Normal | Normal | Mild (sub-clinical) underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or acute illness |
Low | Low | Lor or Normal | Underactive thyroid too little thyroid hormone being produced resulting from a problem with the thyroid (Hypothyroidism) |
Low | Normal | Normal | Mild (sub-clinical) overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) |
Low | High or normal | High or normal | Overactive thyroid too much thyroid hormone being produced (hyperthyroidism) |
Low | Low | Low | Hypothyroidism resulting from a problem with pituitary or hypothalamus signalling that control the thyroid gland |
Reference intervals
Your results will be compared to reference intervals (sometimes called a normal range).
If your results are flagged as high or low this does not necessarily mean that anything is wrong. It depends on your personal situation. Your results need to be interpreted by your doctor.
The choice of tests your doctor makes will be based on your medical history and symptoms. It is important that you tell themeverything you think might help.
You play a central role in making sure your test results are accurate. Do everything you can to make sure the information you provide is correct and follow instructions closely.
Talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking. Find out if you need to fast or stop any particular foods or supplements. These may affect your results. Ask:
Hyperthyroidism is controlled through treatment. This will normally involve either tablets that stop the thyroid gland producing thyroid hormones, radioiodine treatment which destroys thyroid tissue, or surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland.