Continued debate on iodine testing

[userotc]

Further to my post 18 days ago healthunlocked.com/thyroidu..., Ive now received some information which may reopen the debate on which test is appropriate. As I indicated in my earlier post, Genova indicated that a serum test may be better (than the urine test they do!) at least for cellular level measurement. Whilst I (and more importantly, Seaside Susie!) dont understand the cellular reference, the link below seems to imply that there is NO relevant test! ukiodine.org/faqs/#:~:text=...

In recent years, Ive had 3 Genova tests, 1st one slight deficit (=91), 2nd slightly high (=204), 3rd High (=319). Ive now stopped my <RDA supplementation.

I may consider a retest in future - should that be urine or serum (or neither)??? All comments welcome in this continued debate, particularly if they are focused on testing.

Note: In the UK (at least away from London), it is currently difficult/impossible to get a serum test but please dont let that affect your views!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I'll just add my experience of urine iodine testing (using Genova's non-loading urine iodine test), userotc does know of this but I thought I'd add it here to add to the debate.

As with everything, there is always conflicting information out there and it really is difficult to know what to believe.

I think I've mentioned on the forum before that I did two urine iodine tests with Genova, a few years ago now, and the results may be of interest to anyone who is looking into testing.

I consulted a "hormone" specialist practioner to try and get to the bottom of my continuing ill health and prior to my consultation I did a raft of tests including the Genova urine iodine test. That came back as mid-range at 150 (100-199). I was not supplementing with iodine, my dietary intake was probably at least half a pint of milk daily plus an average of one portion of cod or haddock once a week. There was, of course, the amount of iodine in Levothyroxine which is approx 65mcg per 100mcg Levo. At the time I would have been on 175mcg Levo.

The practioner decided I needed a multivitamin which contained 150mcg iodine and I questioned this pointing out that I was not low in iodine and her response was that it didn't matter and that you can't rely on any supplement actually containing what it says (!) which I thought a strange thing to say (and begs lots of other questions).

Being naive at the time and before I'd learned so much from this forum I took the supplement. I retested a few months later and my level had increased to 250 (100-199), my diet was the same, my dose of thyroid meds was then 125mcg Levo plus 18.75mcg T3, the only other difference was the supplement containing 150mcg iodine.

So my personal experience tells me that the non-loading urine iodine test works.