RT3 test.... cheapest place..

[joey82]

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can get an RT3 test done for a reasonable price. I can only find Blue Horizon, £167 + £55 for a nurse to carry out the draw.

Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Joey82

RT3 is an expensive test, there's no getting away from that, and as it's sent to the US it takes about 3 weeks to get the result.

Is there a particular reason you want to test RT3? It really isn't worth it and can't tell you anything that looking at your FT4 and FT3 levels can. It can tell you if your rT3 is high but it can't tell you why it's high.

High rT3 can be caused by many things, only one of which has anything to do with the thyroid and that's when there is an excess of unconverted T4 and you will know this from the FT4 and FT3 results, you don't need a rT3 test to show this.

High rT3 could be caused by low ferritin, by an infection, by low-calorie diets, selenium or zinc deficiency, cortisol issues, stress, dieting, chronic illness, inadequate or low iron, chronic inflammation, high cortisol, or liver issues and any other chronic health issues, and probably several more things.

Other conditions that contribute to increased Reverse T3 levels include:

· Chronic fatigue

· Acute illness and injury

· Chronic disease

· Increased cortisol (stress)

· Low cortisol (adrenal fatigue)

· Low iron

· Lyme disease

· Chronic inflammation

Also selenium deficiency, excess physical, mental and environmental stresses. Also Beta-blocker long-term use such as propranolol, metoprolol, etc. Physical injury is a common cause of increased RT3, also illnesses like the flu. Starvation/severe calorie restriction is known to raise RT3. Diabetes when poorly treated is known to increase RT3. Cirrhosis of the liver. Fatty liver disease. Any other liver stress Renal Failure. A fever of unknown cause. Detoxing of high heavy metals.

I understand that reverse T3 doesn't hang around long because it eventually converts to T2, etc, so it's not necessarily a problem. See article by Paul Robinson here:

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/rev...

Other articles

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/01/...

zrtlab.com/blog/archive/rev...

verywellhealth.com/reverse-...

I would save your money and spend it on something else more useful.

[joey82 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I just wanted to be absolutely certain what my conversion was. Since I increased my levo by 12.5mcg's a day nearly 6 weeks ago I have been less well, with an increase in symptoms.

I had good conversion on my last dose, but still was not feeling well.

I've had a cold that hung around, the most minor of symptoms now and I've just finished a course of antibiotics. I'm most definitely stressed at the moment because of my thyroid, which I am trying to control.

I have experienced rough transition periods before after a dose change, but not this bad.

Paul Robinson has suggested the 12.5 increase could have increased RT3 if I wasn't converting well already.

Not sure I will bother.

Thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to joey82]

I just wanted to be absolutely certain what my conversion was.

The most accurate way would be to look at FT4 and FT3 levels (due to rT3 being raised by a myriad of things other than thyroid), but you can only assess conversion of T4 to T3 when on Levo only. Your previous posts suggest you may be on Levo plus T3, if this is the case you cannot see how well you convert because you are taking exogenous T3 so your FT3 result will reflect this rather than your own natural ability to convert T4 to T3.

[joey82 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie, T4 only.

All noted.

Many thanks

[RedApple Administrator]

joey82, It is an expensive test, and the general consensus here has been that it's not worth doing. Have a browse through previous posts about RT3 testing healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[radd]

joey82,

Blue Horizon stand alone RT3 is £99.00 and with TUK30 discount, only £69.30.

There's a 15 day turn around which is usual, and results can be tricky to interpret.

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[RedApple Administrator in reply to radd]

But the cost of Vacutainer Collection by Healthcare Professional Only needs to be added to that

[radd in reply to RedApple]

Oh yes, I meant to say ask your GP surgery if they are willing to draw the blood.

Because I have paid (and still do) for so many private labs, my GP surgery has agreed to do mine. Perhaps you could ask your surgery   joey82 ?

I used to pay £40 at The Nuffield Hospital. Otherwise, I don't know the cheapest way of getting it done but there are clinics springing up all over the place.

[joey82 in reply to radd]

Blue horizon suggested local GP, Nuffield, KIMS, BUPA for the draw. But the cheapest and easiest way was a nurse come to your house and do it for you.

Cheers

[joey82 in reply to radd]

Going through the local GP just seemed like hard work lol!

[Auders in reply to radd]

Hi, I’ve just done a BH test yesterday. My GP doesn’t due private bloods (don’t know why, an easy money earner for them?) however my local general hospital does private blood draws. They couldn’t tell me the cost though. No doubt I’ll be having a nice surprise through the post!😂 I’m presuming it will be between £30-40. Was worth it, in first time and only tiny amount of bruising. Less pain than the dreaded finger pricks!

[joey82]

Plus my TSH is almost untraceable now, so I'm concerned that has affected my conversion.