Thyroid antibody help !

[Sueislove]

So what should the antibodies be at when getting a blood test and what number show’s Any of the diseases ? Thanks

[PurpleNails Administrator]

There are many types of thyroid specific antibodies.

Antibodies usually have a normal maximum limit or a (0 to X) range. Eg 0 - 34 or <34. Above that level and the results is considered positive. Occasionally lab reference intervals have a unequivocal range or borderline area.

If under active the two antibodies to test are Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (Tg). Each lab may have a different range.

If overactive the are further antibodies associated that. Which antibodies have you had tested?

Positive levels in either at any time confirm autoimmune but as antibody fluctuate greatly, subsequent negative results after previously testing positive doesn’t “undo” the diagnosis. Some with Hashimoto’s under active do not ever show positive levels.

[Sueislove in reply to PurpleNails]

Thanks for the response. Yes my TPO range 0.0-60.0 / mine 28.3TG range 681-1,514/mine 889 so what does this mean ?

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Sueislove]

TPO range (0.0-60.0) - 28.3.

TG range (681-1514) - 889

Both are within their ranges and considered negative for autoimmune.

The range for TG is unusual.

After all with a lower normal limit it’s saying someone with under range antibodies would also be abnormal & that’s not the case.

When the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid it’s the antibodies which are cleaning up the debris & substances which should be in your system. They are as a result of condition not the cause.

An example of a Typical TG range is <115 IU/mL

[Sueislove]

Hmmm 🤔 so I wonder why mine is 889 ? And what’s that mean

[greygoose in reply to Sueislove]

With the range you've given, it doesn't mean anything. I think you should recheck the range, it can't be right.

However, if the range is <115, as PurpleNails suggests, then your result would be positive, and it would be telling you that you have Autoimmune Thyroiditis - aka Hashi's.

[Sueislove]

It was 889 not 115 so not sure what you mean ?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sueislove]

Sueislove,

The range you quoted for TG antibodies does not make sense. You said:

TG range 681-1,514

But antibody ranges would usually start at zero! Any result below the top end would be negative. So "0 to 1514", or "< 1514", or "less than 1514" would all make sense.

With that range, if you had a result of, say, 400, that would be out of range. 800 would be positive. 1600 would be negative again.

[Sueislove in reply to helvella]

Still don’t understand what you are saying that range was in the result panel that I gave , I got back and my number was 889 maybe explain in a different way if you could thx

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sueislove]

Imagine you had got a result of zero. Absolutely no TG antibodies.

That is not in the range (TG range 681-1,514). So it would be positive.

Imagine you had got a result of 100,000. A massively high number of TG antibodies.

That is not in the range (TG range 681-1,514). So it would be positive.

But any number between 681 and 1514, being in the range, would be negative.

Your personal result might well have been 889. But the range you are quoting simply has to be wrong.

[Lalatoot in reply to Sueislove]

Sue what they are saying is that the range you quoted for TG is wrong. It should start at 0 or the less than sign.We cannot say what your number 889 means until we know the correct range starting at 0 or the less than sign.