Should I fire my new endo?

[Oldie68]

My new endo ordered a blood test, T3 uptake (or free T3 uptake) that seems to be outdated, .i.e. pre free T4 and TSH tests. It is very hard to find a Lab that would do this test. Is it indeed unnecessary? Is my new endo incompetent, like the previous four (or even more, since none of them ordered this test)?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Oldie68

The T3 uptake test is not one we have here in the UK, I'm not sure if has ever been used but the useful tests are Free T4 and Free T3 with TSH. We don't do Total T4 or Total T3 as standard (except perhaps in Scotland). Whether or not your endos are incompetent I can't say, I don't think the standard tests in the US are the same as ours here in the UK.

[Oldie68 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply. From my experience here in the US endocrinologists make up their own "standard" tests. Most of them include Total T4, Total T3, Free T4 and TSH. Some "smart" endocrinologists only test for TSH.

[helvella Administrator]

From the American Association for Clinical Chemistry:

T3 uptake: Optimal Testing Recommendations

T3 uptake should not be used as a stand-alone test and has limited clinical utility.

aacc.org/advocacy-and-outre...

Agree with SeasideSusie

[Oldie68 in reply to helvella]

Agree, looks like T3 uptake is not standard and not necessary. Not sure if it ever was recommended and when it was discontinued.