Assay’s interference

[Blueskyyy]

Hi all,

I am planning to test my TSH in the next days at a new Laboratory and no longer at the current laboratory ( they use ECLIA), the reason is because my TSH in recent blood tests was high despite normal FT3 and FT4 levels .

Last blood test :

tSh 7.5

Ft3 5.47 (3.7 - 6.8)

FT4 21.3 (11.2 - 20.1 )

I have to decide which laboratory i chose, I have at disposal two laboratories, one of them use (CLIA) and the other one uses (CMIA)

Does anyone know which is the most accurate assay to avoid any interference ?

Thx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

diogenes may know

Hopefully he may pop along and add a comment

Previous post and reply by Diogenes

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[diogenes Remembering in reply to SlowDragon]

Strictly trial and error I'm afraid. One can't know exactly in advance whether a given test is interfered with, because several sorts of antibodies can exist in humans (anti-sheep, rabbit, mouse, rat etc etc). So if a test gives a stupid result, another should be better but can't be guaranteed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you tested vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Add results and ranges if you have them

These four are frequently too low and need supplementing to improve to optimal levels

See from previous posts you have low iron, so ferritin likely low

Obviously before TTC it's essential to test B12 and folate

Do you have Hashimoto's?

[Blueskyyy in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I have hashi’

I am struggling with my TSH despite normal /optimal free hormones levels!

I even added T3 in hope to suppress this TSH but it didn’t affect it !!

Next attempt is to change the labor and perform new tests using different assay.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Blueskyyy]

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

What were most recent vitamin test results and what vitamin supplements do you currently take?

If taking any supplements that contain biotin remember to stop taking these a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

[greygoose]

How much are you taking of levo and T3? Your FT3 could be higher, you're obviously a poor converter.

But, if you can't get your TSH down, it doesn't matter all that much. A high TSH does not make you ill, TSH itself doesn't make you feel anything.

[Blueskyyy in reply to greygoose]

125 mcg T4

12.5 mcg T3

Free hormones level is fine only the tsh is still high !

I want to normalize TSH as it’s affecting our chance of conception !

[greygoose in reply to Blueskyyy]

Well, I'm not so sure it is. I'm pretty certain that the only reason they say you need to have your TSH below 2 is that a TSH higher than that indicates low thyroid hormones.

TSH isn't a thyroid hormone, it's a pituitary hormone. It stimulates the thyroid to make more hormone when thyroid hormone levels are low in the blood. Obviously, if you're hypo, your thyroid can't respond, so you need to take thyroid hormone replacement.

The only other job TSH has is to stimulate conversion of T4 to T3. As you're taking exogenous T3, you don't need it for that, either. So, in theory, your TSH should be low. Yes. But, I don't think the TSH itself has any direct effect on conception or pregnancy. It's the T4 that crosses the blood/placenta barrier during pregnancy, so you do need a decent level of that. But, you do have a decent level of that. So, conception and pregnancy should, in theory, be possible.

As to why you have such a high TSH, I don't know. Could be due to antibodies, as diogenes suggests. Could be a technical error. Could be a pituitary malfunction. Has your TSH always been high in comparison to your Frees?

[Blueskyyy in reply to greygoose]

Thx

Here are my TSH, FT3/4 and the dosage :

TSH FT4. FT3 DOSAGE

————————————————-

11.9 11.2 6.2 50 LT4

9.1 —- —- 75 LT4

64 —- —— 75 LT4

13.3 18.6 4.7 100 LT4

8.7 20.1 4.7 112.5 LT4

14.5 22.3 5.4 112.5 LT4 “was taking glutamine “

7.5 21.3 5.47 125 LT4 + 12.5 LT3

[greygoose in reply to Blueskyyy]

I assume the ranges are always the same? But, in any case, your TSH has never been low, has it? And it seems to jump around independent of the Free levels. So, I would be more inclined to think there's a pituitary problem, rather than an assay problem.

[Blueskyyy in reply to greygoose]

Yes the ranges are the same

You are right, Tsh has never been Low !

But the doctor keeps saying that my TPO antibodies are high 300 and that confirms hashimoto, can pituitary Problem coincide with hashimoto ?

[greygoose in reply to Blueskyyy]

Yes, of course it can. You're not limited to one or the other. Problems like company!

Yes, you do have Hashi's with those high antibodies. But, that wouldn't account for a TSH that is always too high. TSH is a pituitary hormone, so it's more than likely that that is where the fault lies. Have you had any other pituitary hormones tested, like ATCH or HGH?

[Blueskyyy in reply to greygoose]

No, only thyroid related

[greygoose in reply to Blueskyyy]

Well, it might be a good idea to get them searching in that direction - pituitary malfunction - and get more testing done.