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Thyroid function tests (TFTs) is a collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid. [1] TFTs may be requested if a patient is thought to suffer from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or to monitor the effectiveness of either thyroid-suppression or hormone replacement therapy.
Thyroid disease is a medical condition that affects the structure and/or function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones [ 1 ] that travel through the blood to help regulate many other organs, meaning that it is an endocrine organ .
Serum iron is a medical laboratory test that measures the amount of circulating iron that is bound to transferrin and freely circulate in the blood. Clinicians order this laboratory test when they are concerned about iron deficiency, which can cause anemia and other problems. 65% of the iron in the body is bound up in hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells.
Hypothyroidism (also called underactive thyroid, low thyroid or hypothyreosis) is a disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. [3] It can cause a number of symptoms, such as poor ability to tolerate cold , extreme fatigue, muscle aches , constipation , slow heart rate , depression , and ...
Transferrin saturation (TS), measured as a percentage, is a medical laboratory value. It is the value of serum iron divided by the total iron-binding capacity [1] of the available transferrin, the main protein that binds iron in the blood, this value tells a clinician how much serum iron is bound.
Transferrin (mg/dL) = 0.7 x TIBC (μg of iron/dL) To measure TIBC in the blood is less expensive than a direct measurement of transferrin. [4] [5] The TIBC should not be confused with the unsaturated iron-binding capacity or UIBC (LOINC 2501-5, 22753-8 & 35216-1). The UIBC is calculated by subtracting the serum iron from the TIBC. [6]
While typically normal, the blood leukocyte count may be slightly increased. There may be anemia that is normochromic and normocytic. Thyroid function testing frequently reveals decreased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and increased serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) during the acute phase of the disease. [2]
First, blood is drawn and a baseline TSH level is measured. Then, TRH is administered via a vein. After 30 minutes blood is drawn again and the levels of TSH are measured and compared to the baseline. Some authors recommend additional blood sampling at 15 minutes. In children, late blood sampling at 60 to 120 minutes is necessary.