The technician will then place a small bandage over the wound. A blood draw is a routine, minimally invasive procedure. During the days immediately after the blood draw, you may notice slight bruising or soreness at the area where the needle was inserted. An ice pack or an over-the-counter pain reliever can help ease your discomfort. If you experience a great deal of pain, or if the area around the puncture becomes red and swollen, follow up with your doctor immediately.
These could be signs of an infection. The T4 test and the TSH test are the two most common thyroid function tests. The T4 test is known as the thyroxine test.
A high level of T4 indicates an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include anxiety, unplanned weight loss, tremors, and diarrhea. Most of the T4 in your body is bound to protein. A small portion of T4 is not and this is called free T4.
Free T4 is the form that is readily available for your body to use. Sometimes a free T4 level is also checked along with the T4 test. The TSH test measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone in your blood.
The TSH has a normal test range between 0. If you show signs of hypothyroidism and have a TSH reading above 2. Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue , depression, and brittle hair and fingernails. Your doctor will likely want to perform thyroid function tests at least every other year going forward. Your doctor may also decide to begin treating you with medications, such as levothyroxine, to ease your symptoms. Both the T4 and TSH tests are routinely performed on newborn babies to identify a low-functioning thyroid gland.
If left untreated, this condition, called congenital hypothyroidism, can lead to developmental disabilities. The T3 test checks for levels of the hormone triiodothyronine.
This is an autoimmune disorder associated with hyperthyroidism. A T3 resin uptake, also known as a T3RU, is a blood test that measures the binding capacity of a hormone called thyroxin-binding globulin TBG. If your T3 level is elevated, your TBG binding capacity should be low. Euthyroid: a condition where the thyroid gland as working normally and producing normal levels of thyroid hormone. Treatment requires taking thyroid hormone pills.
Subclinical Hypothyroidism: a mild form of hypothyroidism where the only abnormal hormone level is an increased TSH. There is controversy as to whether this should be treated or not. All patients with overt hypothyroidism are usually treated with thyroid hormone pills. Hyperthyroidism: a condition where the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism may be treated with antithyroid meds Methimazole, Propylthiouracil , radioactive iodine or surgery.
Subclinical Hyperthyroidism: a mild form of hyperthyroidism where the only abnormal hormone level is a decreased TSH.
Central hypothyroidism: a rare cause of hypothyroidism where the thyroid gland is normal and the problem is inadequate TSH secretion from the pituitary gland. Pituitary gland: this endocrine gland sits at the base of the brain and secretes hormones that control thyroid and adrenal function, growth and reproduction.
To determine the cause, your doctor will usually do additional testing, such as measurement of the blood levels of the hormones produced by the thyroid gland itself. The TSH test is considered a safe procedure. However, as with many medical tests, some problems can happen with having blood drawn.
These include:. Having a blood test is relatively painless. Still, many children are afraid of needles. Explaining the test in terms your child can understand might help ease some of the fear. Allow your child to ask the technician any questions he or she might have. Tell your child to try to relax and stay still during the procedure, as tensing muscles and moving can make it harder and more painful to draw blood.
It also may help if your child looks away when the needle is being inserted into the skin. If you have questions about the TSH test procedure, speak with your doctor. You can also talk to the technician before the procedure.
Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What It Is A thyroid stimulating hormone TSH test is a common blood test used to evaluate how well the thyroid gland is working. Why It's Done TSH testing is used to: diagnose and monitor the treatment of a thyroid disorder help evaluate pituitary gland function Your doctor may order a TSH test if your child has symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, or shows signs of an enlarged thyroid gland.
Preparation Your child doesn't have to fast or limit activity before the test.
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