Can anyone tell me if the T3 levels are always checked with a general thyroid blood test.

[saraharding78]

Thyroid

[HarryE]

No, they should be as it is the most important thing, but for economy and lack of proper understanding they aren't, sadly.

[Hidden]

HarryE is right; and even though my GP recently requested a T3 test the lab refused and did a TSH instead ......

[Marz]

If the TSH is in range it seems the labs do not deem it necessary to test the FT4 and FT3. Of course the lab technicians are in the lab and do not see the patient who often shows so many signs visible to the GP. Sadly the GP must adhere to what the blood test indicates - having to ignore the patien - .and so - many people remain under

treated or untreated. You may need to work very hard on your GP for the blood tests you require....

[Aurealis]

No, I think it's a more difficult / expensive / or lengthy test to do. There's a tendency for samples to get lost / results to get lost / labels to fall off etc etc etc I've heard a few different excuses now

[Fruitandnutcase]

As the others say it seems to be really hard to get this done on the NHS. I have had it written down on my blood request form several times by the endo and it has never been done. When I paid Blue Horizons recently I had no problem and the results were back in two days.

[crimple]

I have never had a T3 test except when paid for via BH. When my TSH has been very low, well under 1 they have tested T4, unasked and then said my levo dose needed to be lowered. I had to fight to stay on the same dose.