T3 home tests reliable?

[Swinkie]

Are T3 finger prick home tests reliable?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Swinkie

I have been doing home fingerprick tests with Blue Horizon and Medichecks for a few years now, sometimes within a day or two of a GP test, the results always come back as expected and within a point or two of the GP test.

If you want to test Free T3 then don't test it on it's own, it needs to be done with TSH and FT4, all 3 tests from the same blood draw.

[Swinkie in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Susie.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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)

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...

Come back with new post once you get full results

[Swinkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for the very comprehensive information...very grateful..x

[Swinkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Would I need a full blood draw for these? I did have all the thyroid tests years ago and have been on Thyroxin for a long time, get it checked every year but NHS don't test T3.

Having adrenals tested too.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Swinkie]

Adrenal testing. Recommended option is Regenerus cortisol and DHEA saliva test

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Swinkie]

Tips on DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

most people manage DIY testing ok

If it’s disaster they will send another kit...you can change to blood draw option then if need be