Please help - negative TPO results meaning?

[Quyejoyce1]

Please could someone help with my mums test. She has shown raised TSH levels for some time. I have finally managed to get her to take antibodies test but it’s showing a negative result. What does this mean? Please advise?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Quyejoyce1

A negative result is good, indicates no suggestion of autoimmune thyroid disease. Autoimmune is just one cause of hypothyroidism, aka Hashimoto's, (although it is the most common).

However, one negative result doesn't rule it out, and you can have Hashi's without raised antibodies.

[radd]

Quyejoyce1,

Your Mum will require both TPOAb & TGAb tested to eliminate Hashimotos and even then as antibodies fluctuate a negative is not definitive.

FT4 is 35% through range and a raised TSH level indicates a pituitary working harder to encourage further thyroid hormone. However, TSH levels can vary and without having FT3 tested it is difficult to ascertain a better thyroid function picture.

How does your Mum feel?

[Quyejoyce1]

Thank you. I am hashimotos and she displays many of the same symptoms

[radd in reply to Quyejoyce1]

Quyejoyce1,

Most GP's won't/can't test FT3 so members use private testing & post results including ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment..

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[greygoose in reply to Quyejoyce1]

The symptoms would be of low thyroid. If her TSH is high - although you don't say how high - then that would mean she's hypo, so not surprising she has the same symptoms as you.

[Anthea55]

Hi Quyejoyce1

I guess that when you say 'negative' you are looking at '<4'. The usual meaning of the sign '<' is 'less than', so that means 'less than 4'. Similarly '>4' would mean 'greater than 4'.

Negative would be written as '-4' or 'minus 4'.

So TPO <4 means that they can't be more accurate at such a low level and it doesn't really matter as the test for Hashimoto's is to see if TPO is over range and/or the other antibody, TGAb, is over range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are positive

You will need FULL thyroid and vitamin testing privately for your mum

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter 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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Clearly her TSH is high

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water

Essential to test vitamin levels...very likely low

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH