Retard tft test

[leather27]

Can any one tell me what a retard tft repeat is on a blood test form.thanks

[Aurealis]

Thyroid Function Tests. It seems to always include measuring TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) but they don’t always also do free T3 and free T4, though sometimes they do ( in this area anyway)

Oh sorry only just noticed the retard part of your question - I don’t know!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I don't know.

So I shall ask, are you absolutely sure it says "retard"? I don't suppose a spelling checker has changed what you typed?

I can think what it would mean if it said "reflex":

How is it used?

TFTs are used to help diagnose hypo- and hyperthyroidism which can be due to various thyroid diseases, or occasionally, disorders of the pituitary gland or to monitor the response to treatment of these conditions.

In some laboratories, the initial blood test for thyroid disorders is a TSH test. If your TSH concentration is abnormal, it will usually be followed up with a FT4 measurement (or occasionally total T4). In some cases FT3 (or total T3) will also be performed. Often, the laboratory will do this follow-up testing automatically, and this is known as reflex testing. This saves your doctor time from having to wait for the results of the initial test and then requesting the additional testing to confirm or clarify a diagnosis. Follow-up tests are often performed on the original sample that was submitted when the initial test was requested.

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

[leather27 in reply to helvella]

Sorry its not retard its deranged I knew it was something like I was crackers

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to leather27]

Ah!

I think that means that they don't make obvious sense. For example, low TSH, low FT4 and high FT3. Another term you might see is discordant.

One sensible approach to odd results is to get them re-done at a different laboratory that uses different techniques for measurement.