AsseyMethod: Elisa
Abbrevation: TSH
Sector: Hormone 2
SampleType: S
S.Vol: -
Transport: at 2-8˚c, -20˚c
Storage: 1 day at 2-8˚c for longer time at -20 ˚c
Test Name: Thyroid – Stimulating Hormone - Thyrotropin
Normal Range: 0.3-6.2 Newborn<20 Normal& repeat test after 2-6 weeks for Hypothyroid
To screen for and diagnose thyroid disorders; to monitor treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
For screening: All newborns are screened for congenital hypothyroidism. There is currently no recommendation in the UK for routine screening of adults.
When a patient has symptoms of hypo- or hyperthyroidism and/or an enlarged thyroid. For monitoring treatment of the thyroid as directed by your healthcare professional.
In patients with thyroid cancer who have undergone total removal of the thyroid and are taking levothyroxine (synthetic thyroxine (T4)).
A blood sample taken from a vein in the arm. For neonatal screening blood is collected by pricking the heel
None required
The test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood, which is an indicator of thyroid disease. TSH is made by the pituitary gland, a tiny organ located below the brain and behind the sinus cavities. It is part of the body’s feedback system to maintain stable amounts of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the blood.Together these tests are referred to as thyroid function tests.
Thyroid hormones help control the rate at which the body uses energy. When concentrations decrease in the blood, the hypothalamus (an organ in the brain) releases thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). This stimulates the release of TSH by the pituitary gland. The TSH in turn stimulates the production and release of T4 and T3 by the thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped gland that lies in the neck flat against the windpipe. When all three organs are functioning normally, thyroid hormone concentrations in the blood remain constant.