If your GP has ordered an FT3 test, did the lab... - Thyroid UK
If your GP has ordered an FT3 test, did the laboratory actually do the test?
But I am on T3 only and my test result recently is TSH 0.05 and T4 <3 so the lab would do one on receiving those results anyway.
Your lucky, every time I ask for my results I am told they are within the "normal" range. I can never get to know the exact results. Also my GP is only testing my blood now about every 6 months!
I always ask for the numbers and never accept 'normal' as an answer. Get your printouts and have a good look at them. I got my entire file and found a blood test in 1997 with a TSH of 3.5 which was of course normal. I was diagnosed in 2008. My GP tests me once a year and only because of needing to do it for the targets. He accepts my tests results which would be abnormal to another Dr as 'normal' for me.
I asked a heart consultant to order one for me, he did so, but the lab didn't do it anyway.
Frustrating that I asked for one but told not necessary while OK.......so have to wait until I see an Endo for first time in early November.
I was told the same thing. I was actually told that because my TSH is fine, my t3 must be too, lol! 
that is wrong if you have a problem ..fobed off again.!!
I have been down that road years ago !!insist if you have things you feel point too it being underactive
I voted yes, but he had to ask twice. The first time they didn't do it. The second time he phoned and asked, so they did it.
I have never had a problem requesting it to be added to the form by the nurse taking the blood, or with the lab doing it.
Same as Poppy for me though. T3 only, suppressed TSH and no FT4 x
My GP asked for a FT3 from the lab, but they did not do it, as I was told the lab does not test the FT3 range. Oh well that's okay then!!
have no issues, nurse happy to request it and lab have always processed it - but I am on lithium so i dont know if that means that the lab are more likely to comply with request.
They probably are. I had regular full thyroid tests (well, as full as the NHS do) when I was on lithium. Always borderline and I was always told my thyroid was fine. Got a sneak peak at one result. TSH 11 but T4 just in range at 11 (range 10-25 back then). Apparently this meant my thyroid was fine. It's funny how since getting treated properly, my mental illness seems to have cured itself
you can ask for a copy.. it is your right ..I do ...
Oh, I do now 
This was years ago when I was suffering from severe mental illness (which turned out to be thyroid). I wasn't in a state back then to ask for these results and accepted 'normal' as a response. I will ask for these old test results at some point. It would be interesting to compare them all those years ago!
I am pleased to hear you are Good now ! health you can not buy ..I am glad you were listened to and you found the courage to ask....so many shy and do not do so ..but if you are not well it is very hard, I understand ....rock bottom is horrid .......Keep well and Good Luck Margaret xx
My doctor said waste of time as hosp would not do the test if he did request it, but has to be done now as have pituitary disorder, so endo now request ft4 and ft3 as tsh no longer will give correct reading.
I'm on T3 only and the GP I see because my previous one doesn't approve, was willing to ask for it, but
prefers to remain 'ignorant' whilst supporting my right to do what feels best for my body. She says the consultants will not budge, which is what influences the labs.
The NHS lab did do the test when I paid for it !!!. But refused prior.
There are a lot of GPs who won't even order the test because they know the lab won't do it, which does slightly skew the results. It would be worth bearing that in mind when analysing the results. It is quite shocking that a lab can overrule a doctor though! The orange segment should be infinitesimally small, but we know that won't be the case 
Out of probably two dozen tests, only once when it was requested by the Endo who is the head of department. However, he started the conversation by saying 'b***dy labs will not do ft3 unless I tell them you have severe thyrotoxicosis or worse still they will test your TSH and ft4 to see if they are out of range first and then THEY will decide whether of not to test!' I have Graves and now no thyroid. So i'm going to say no.
More worrying is the fact that most docs are happy to let the labtech diagnose!! Even now sometimes the lab won't do T3 even when the endo orders it!!!
Was written down to do all 3. FT3 result didnt come back. the nurse rang and the lab staff LIED and said it was being done. Found out it wasnt and had to redo. There are not enough swear words for how angry i was and the nurse was not impressed!
They eventually did it after about 3 requests. The GP had to circle it in red with a lot of exclamation marks. I don't think she knew why we kept making the request however. This was 11 years ago.
they stopped doing T4 let alone T3, even though my GP requested it, my endo got it done but told me I don't need to see him anymore!
Please could we have one of these polls for RT3? I have never heard of ANY UK NHS labs doing this test & find it interesting that no medics even know of the possibility or basic chemistry of an accumulation of RT3.
Jx
They only do Total T3 where I am. They tested it all the time while my TSH was below range/suppressed but now on Nature-Throid and despite it being requested on the form they didn't do T4 or T3 as TSH was within range.
Before diagnosis it was the same. TSH in range so nothing else was tested. When it was borderline they tested T4 but not T3.
GP refuses to order the test because lab won't process it.
Tested T3 every time (sometimes as often as every 3 wks)
But I'm graves & it's an essential test for hyper, it's not considered as necessary for hypo as they rarely have High levels & its only elevated T3 that they are bothered with
...which is a shame because low t3 is essential to detect too
Yup, they'll never find out if a person has a T4 to T3 conversion issue if they don't test T3. I wonder how many people with this kind of problem are missed and told they're "normal".
I was one of them, hence the aggressive psychiatric treatment protocol. I eventually found a GP who would listen many years ago. I wasn't actually looking for one but when I walked into his office and he didn't treat me like a 'mental health patient' I felt I could ask him to do a thorough thyroid test. He did T3 but he said he wouldn't have needed to because I was clearly hypothyroid by then. He was great. I wish he was still around...
We get it tested routinely every time.
Normally they dont, as TSH is suppressed, but this last one they did for some reason!!!
I was told apologetically by my GP that the Lab would not do it, so I offered to pay the NHS having found out the price which was cheap compared to privately. Even then, having it clearly marked on form that I would pay, they TWICE threw the sample away without testing FT3 and in the end the GP (who had first rung to check that I could have it done privately), had to ring them to get the Head Honcho there on the case so I did get it the 3rd time (and paid for it). I think I paid around £12.
I've been on T3 for 10 years. Somtetimes they do sometimes they don;t but will only "release" the results to GP if consulyant endos name is on request!
I used to ask the phlebotomist to write on the request form that I was taking a T4/T3 combination and they always then tested it, but once when I forgot to ask her they didn't do it, so I rang them and said I was taking ERFA and they said if my blood had still been there (they only keep it 7 days) they'd have tested and in future my GP should write on the form that I take T3. Once they even tested other pituitary hormones because my TSH was undetectable. The problem I find is that neither the lab nor the GPs understand the results and when I was reducing ERFA I got a TSH of 0 and FT4 and FT3 only just above the bottom of the range and the GP's receptionist told me I should reduce my meds as I was overmedicated!
Hi Lyn,
At one time it was always done, or I would ever have been diagnosed Hypo. Now although on armour and T3 my NHS will not do it, it is the Lab manager. This is especially crucial for me as it is vital my FT3 stays just in range due to my lethal heart conditions. I pay about every 6 weeks to have it done.
Best wishes,
Jackie
I had a mass of blood tests done, including T3, then follow ups, also including T3, which were both done. Must have caught the lab on a good day! 
(Mind you, they also did Vit D twice too, which a lot of people say they have trouble getting done).
My free t3 has been tested every year since I started t3. The doctor writes on the form , taking Liothyronine. So it always gets done. Thing is , I no longer take the Liothyronine as I now self treat with NDT. :). I reached the decision to self treat after seeing the local endo.
Yes but I have never had an antibodies test despite hospital consultant requesting one to be done. The Blood testing people altered the request.
My T3 was tested because I'd learnt on here to get the doctor to write "possible conversion issue" on it. I can't remember if T3 had been requested years ago before I got them to start writing that.
Not while I was on T4 only initially and it took the making of quite a lot of fuss to actually get my GP to insist on having it tested, which she did and the lab eventually agreed. But since my endo put me on T3/T4 combo, I have regularly had my FT3 levels checked.
Was quite surprised that one of the doctors at our surgery said "Lets get your FT3 checked", to which I replied "I don't suppose they will do it", she said "Let's see", and they did!
I have been underactive for nearly 7 years and have just about always had the t3 done as well as t4 and tsh. That was even before I took t3 meds. Think I must be very lucky.
Jo xx
I asked my gp to test t3 a few years ago. He wrote "needs t3" on the form. Labs refused to test t3, presumably because my t4 was in range. Recently my t3 was tested via my endo even though the t4 was in range and my t3 was low. When I next got a blood test form from my gp, he wrote "low t3" on it and my t3 was tested. Perhaps you or your doctor could write "low t3" on your blood test form and see what happens...
I have graves disease and have now been diagnosed with CFS/ME. Doctors won't do anything about my t3, despite ongoing fatigue.
Grrrr.
I have it in writing from our Head of Pathology that the FT3 test is 'of little diagnostic value'.
Very interesting results!! My Endo requsted my T3 to be tested as I am taking my own bought T3 and the lab ignored her request.
My GP wasn't confident that the lab would test plus there wasn't a tick box option on her screen for FT3 so she said to get around this she would request TFT and added the note: t4 n/a please test Ft3 as patient is taking liothyronine. She has done this twice now and so far they have tested FT3.
The nurse doing my blood said that they tick the box for thyroid and it's then up to the lab to work out if T3 needs doing. If T4 is out of range they will do it. Also, if the endo requested it it was done. Otherwise, I don't think so
I feel really frustrated, I ask my GP to help me because I feel quite ill, hair loss which is making me depressed, weight gain, broken brittle nails, pins and needles in my hand, and tiredness so bad that I actually fell asleep in the surgery waiting room, I have absolutely no energy at all. he did a blood test for thyroid and said it was fine 3.7 mU/L(0.35-4.94)
I was advised by someone on this website to go back and ask for TSH, FT3, FT4, Thyroid antibodies, B12 and D, Folates, Ferritin and intacellular magnesium, which I did and I have picked up the results this morning. The only test that was done is the thyroid antibody level <5 kU/L (<5.6). can anyone tell me if at least this reading is normal. I was really looking forward to my retirement, had so many plans but just haven`t got the energy for anything.
On T3 only, so I always have to ask to get it included on thyroid tests, but never had any problems getting it done.
My doctor has asked for it twice but the labs won't do it!
