TSH produced by the pituitary. Thyrotropin Test stimulates the release of thyroid hormone from thyroglobulin. It also stimulates the growth of thyroid follicular cells. An abnormal level of TSH Test can mean that the thyroid hormone regulation system is out of whack, usually as a result of a benign condition (Hyperthyroidismor Hypothyroidism).
| Also Known as | TSH, Thyrotropin Test, Thyrotropin, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Thyrotropic Hormone, |
| Test Purpose | Diagnose and Monitor the treatment of a Thyroid Disorder |
| Test Preparations | No Need any Preparation for this Test |
| Test Components | Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) |
| Specimen | 2 ML (1 ML Min.) Blood From 1 SST |
| Stability Room | 2 Hours |
| Stability Refrigerated | 48 Hours |
| Stability Frozen | 4 Weeks |
| Method | Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) |
| Download Report | Download Report |
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). A Thyrotropin Test is a blood test that measures this hormone. TSH levels that are high or low can be a sign of a thyroid problem.
Why To Get Tested:
The TSH test may be used for the following reasons:
- To diagnose an underactive or overactive thyroid gland
- To detect thyroid disease before it causes symptoms, especially in newborns
- To evaluate a thyroid nodule, which is a lump in the thyroid gland
- To evaluate a goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid gland
- To diagnose or rule out thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, and thyroid cancer
- To monitor a patient’s response to treatment for Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, or another thyroid condition
When to Get Tested:
If you have symptoms of these disorders, your doctor may order a TSH test or thyroid panel. Symptoms of Hypothyroidism include:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Weight gain
- I am cold
- Painful joints and muscles
- Dry Skin
- Fine and/or dry hair
- slow heart rate
- Constipation
- irregular menstrual periods
- fertility problems
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Weightloss
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Difficulty tolerating heat
- Humor changes
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Loose and frequent bowel movements
Indications:
- TSH differentiates Hypothyroidismfrom Hyperthyroidism.
- TSH used to diagnose primary Hypothyroidism.
- TSH is used to differentiate primary from secondary Hypothyroidism.
- TSH also differentiates Hypothyroidismdue to the hypothalamus (tertiary Hypothyroidism).
- The TSH level is also done for suppressive or replacement therapy.
- TSH has also been done in a newborn with primary hypothyroidism who has a low T4 level.
Thyroid disorder = T4 decreased + TSH normal or raised
Pituitary disorder = T4 decreased + TSH decreased
What other tests might I have along with this test?
You may also need these tests:
- T3 uptake.
- Free T3.
- Total T3.
- Total T4.
- Free T4.
- Free thyroxine index.
- TSH.
- Thyroglobulin (Tg)
- Thyroid scan
- Radioactive iodine uptake test
- Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) test
Sample Required:
- The serum of a patient is needed.
- 2 ML (1 ML Min.) Blood From 1 SST
Sample Precations:
- Sample with hemolysis or lipemia is rejected.
- Centrifuge the turbid sample before performing the test.
Normal Values:
Source 1
- Male: 0.3 – 5.0 uIU/ml
- Non Pregnant: 0.3 – 5.0 uIU/ml
- Pregnant:
- First trimester: 0.1 to 2.5 mIU/ml
- Second trimester: 0.2 to 3.0 mIU/ml
- Third timester: 0.3 to 3.0 mIU/ml
Source 2:
- Adult = 0.4 to 5.6 mIU/L
- Newborn = 3 to 20 mIU/L
- Cord blood = 3 to 12 µU/mL
- Values vary between laboratories.
Source 3:
- Adult
- 21 to 54 years = 0.4 to 4.2 mU/L
- 55 to 87 years = 0.5 to 8.9 mU/L
- Newborn = 1.7 to 9.1 mU/L
- 0.3 to 3.04 mIU/L (another reference)
- Pregnancy
- First trimester = 0.3 to 4.5 mU/L
- Second trimester = 0.5 to 4.6 mU/L
- Third trimester = 0.8 to 5.2 mU/L
| Hyperthyroidism | Normal | Mild hypothyroidism | Hypothyroidism |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0–0.4 mU/L | 0.4–4.0 mU/L | 4.0–10.0 mU/L | 10.0 mU/L |
Thyroid Function Tests Summary:
| Disease | T3 | T4 (total) | T4 free | TSH | Cholesterol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothyroidism, | decreased | decreased | low | increased | increased |
| Hyperthyroidism | increased | increased | increased | decreased or absent | decreased |
| Excess Thyroid binding globulin (TBG) | increased | increased | Normal | decreased | |
| Decreased thyroglobulin (TBG) | Low | Low | Normal |
| TSH | Total and Free T4 | Total and Free T3 | MOST LIKELY DIAGNOSIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal thyroid function (e.g., “euthyroid”) |
| Normal or decreased | Normal or decreased | Decreased | Normal adjustment in thyroid function due to illness (nonthyroidal illness or sick euthyroid syndrome) |
| Increased | Normal | Normal | Subclinical hypothyroidism; in a person with hypothyroidism on treatment, not enough thyroid hormone is being given |
| Increased | Decreased | Normal of decreased | Hypothyroidism resulting from a problem with the thyroid gland itself (primary hypothyroidism) |
| Normal or increased | Increased | Increased | Hyperthyroidism resulting from a problem with the pituitary gland signals (central hyperthyroidism) or from a problem with the thyroid hormone receptor (thyroid hormone resistance) |
| Decreased | Normal | Normal | Subclinical Hyperthyroidism; in a person with Hypothyroidism, too much thyroid hormone is being given |
| Decreased | Normal | Increased | Hyperthyroidism resulting from the thyroid gland making too much active thyroid hormone T3 (uncommon, also known as T3 toxicosis) |
| Decreased | Increased | Increased | Hyperthyroidism resulting from the gland making too much thyroid hormones (primary hyperthyroidism) |
| Decreased | Decreased | Decreased | Hypothyroidism resulting from a problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary signals that govern the thyroid gland (central hypothyroidism) |
Increase Level of TSH is seen in
- Hypothyroidism
- Pituitary resistance
- Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) Secreting Tumor
- Adults and neonates with primary hypothyroidism.
- Congenital Cretinism.
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Thyrotoxicosis due to pituitary tumors.
- TSH antibodies.
- Large doses of iodine.
- Chronic and severe illness.
- Drugs
- Amiodarone
- Lithium
- Haloperidol
- Chlorpromazine
- Metoclopramide
- Metyrapone
- Domperidone
Decrease Level of TSH is seen in
- Primary Hyperthyroidism.
- Secondary and tertiary Hypothyroidism.
- Overtreatment in a Hypothyroid patient.
- Treated Grave’s disease patient.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Euthyroid Sick Syndrome (associated with acute illness)
- Central Hypothyroidism
- Hypothyroidism or Pituitary Ademoma causing TSH deficiency and low T4 and T3
- Hyponatremia
- Malnutrition
- Mood Disorders
- Medications
- Amiodarone
- Interferon
- Interleukin-2
- Opiates
- Corticosteroids
- Levothyroxine
- Levodopa
- Dopamine Agonists
- Pyridoxine
- Bromocriptine
- Somatostatin analogs
- Carbemazepine
- Metformin
- Biotin (High dose, >5000 mcg/day)
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