Medicheck no longer doing ft3 rt3 hormone test

[SandraCC]

Hi all

Do you know of any other companies that can do this test in the home?

Thanks

[greygoose]

Do you mean they've stopped doing FT3 AND rT3? Or stopped doing the FT3:rT3 ratio?

[SandraCC in reply to greygoose]

Yes they've stopped doing the testing because apparently the samples are sent to the US and in the current circumstances was taking an unacceptably long time to get the results so they are removing these tests from sale.

[SandraCC in reply to SandraCC]

Basically anything to do with rt3 they have stopped

[greygoose in reply to SandraCC]

FT3 tests are done in the UK. Your GP could get one done if he insisted. So, it must be the FT3:rT3 ratio they're talking about. And they're not worth doing, anyway. So, I wouldn't worry about it.

[SandraCC in reply to greygoose]

I want to have a panel of tests done. My GPS are not willing to do these tests. Are there a list of other blood test companies that do this?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SandraCC]

SandraCC

There are some tests currently unavailable, Blue Horizon aren't doing reverse T3 test either. But as Greygoose says, it's not worth doing a rT3 test, it's a waste of time and money. Even if the result comes back high the test doesn't tell you why it's high, and there are many, many reasons for high rT3 and only one of those reasons is to do with the thyroid, and that's when there's an excess of T4 converting to rT3 instead of Free T3 - in which case a high FT4 and low FT3 result tells you that anyway.

Best to just go for the test that does

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Blue Horizon Thyroid PREMIUM GOLD or Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT PLUS FOLATE covers all those.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Agree with SeasideSusie and greygoose that reverse T3 test is of little value and always very expensive

Far better to do full thyroid and vitamin testing

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin (doesn’t include folate)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[SandraCC in reply to SlowDragon]

My apologies SlowDragon , I missed your informative post. Thank you for this, super helpful.

Thank you to you all.