Does NHS allow T3 blood test?

[Lilly12255]

Does the NHS do any T3 tests?

So far I only had T4, TSH and TPO from Hospital endocrinologist

Is there any point asking for a T3 tests or is that out of policy?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lilly12255

My GP surgery does FT3 - obviously it's the lab that decides whether or not they will do FT3 test but the hospital lab which does my surgery's tests will do FT3 when TSH is suppressed, it's not done as a matter of course.

If an endocrinologist requests it one would expect the hospital lab to do it but that may not always be the case, in which case the endo should chase it up if he wants FT3 done.

[Lilly12255 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Would a t3 test make sense for me? My tsh is 3.5 and t4 above normal range

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lilly12255]

Lilly12255

Personally I think an FT3 test is essential for everyone all the time. T3 is the active hormone which every cell in our bodies need, the FT3 result is the most important and when tested at the same time as FT4 it tells us how well we convert T4 to T3. The problem is that doctors don't know this, they aren't taught it so they think it's not important.

[Lilly12255 in reply to SeasideSusie]

When I was seen by NHS hospital endocrinologist, they did not test my T3.

Is there any point asking GP? Or should I ask to be referred back to hospital endocrinologist but they might not test more than last time...

[serenfach]

The response I have had from the labs makes it very clear they do not do a T3 test unless the GP makes a case for them to do it. Just writing "test T3" is not good enough for the labs, the GP has to say why he wants it tested. Maybe writing DIO2 conversion check would be enough?