Thyroid Hormone Test Kits
Order reliable testing to check your thyroid hormone levels from home. Get results and advice in just 72 hours.
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Check your thyroid hormone levels without leaving home
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Get results and advice from our doctors within 72 hours
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Free delivery as standard
The thyroid function test kit finds out whether your thyroid has normal, low, or high function. Low thyroid function can be treated with tablets which replace the thyroid hormones. High thyroid function can be treated by tablets, radiation, or surgery which aims to lower your thyroid function back to normal levels.
At Superdrug Online Doctor, we offer a thyroid test kit to check what your levels of thyroid hormones are to see if you might need treatment.
Using a home test works in the following steps:
- Place an order and get your kit delivered to your door (delivery is free)
- Collect your sample by following the instructions in the test kit
- Send your samples to our UK-based, accredited partner laboratory (postage is free)
- Once your results are available (in 2 to 3 days), our doctors will review your results
- One of our doctors will contact you, via a secure and confidential message in your patient account, to let you know your results and give you advice and support on what to do next
In some cases, the doctor may need to ask for more information. They may contact you by phone, so make sure your telephone number is up to date in your online account.
Medically reviewed by
Dr Clair GraingerLast reviewed: 07 Nov 2019
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How it Works
About Thyroid Function
What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid is a small organ located at the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. It’s made up of two halves, each about 4-6 centimetres in length. The two halves form an H-shape. You usually won't be able to feel the thyroid gland in your neck when it is a normal size.
The thyroid gland releases hormones, which are chemical messengers. The hormones that the thyroid produces control your metabolism, which means that it regulates the speed at which your cells work.
There are several hormones that are related to the function of the thyroid. These hormones are:
- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
- T4
- T3
What are good thyroid hormone levels?
You can test the level of thyroid hormones present in the body by having a blood test. There is a set range that is considered normal. But, the units this range is measured in can change depending on what testing service you use. Below are the approximate normal ranges for the thyroid hormones:
- TSH: 0.4 - 4.5 milliunits per litre (mU/L)
- T4: 9.0 - 25.0 picomoles per litre (pmol/L)
- T3: 3.5 - 7.8 picomoles per litre (pmol/L)
Around 1 in 100 people have low thyroid function and around 1 in 200 people have high thyroid function. Women are around ten times more likely to have high or low thyroid function compared to men. Low thyroid function is more common in older women.
What happens when thyroid levels are too low?
You may experience these symptoms if your thyroid levels are too low:
- Feeling tired all the time
- Weight gain
- Being sensitive to the cold
- Constipation
- Low mood
- Low sex drive
- Dry skin
- Brittle nails
- Brittle hair
- Muscle aches, weakness, or cramps
- Irregular or heavy periods in women
Even if you don’t experience these symptoms, having low thyroid function can put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
What happens if thyroid levels are too high?
You may experience these symptoms if your thyroid levels are too high:
- Finding it hard to stay still
- Feeling tired all the time
- Weight loss
- Being sensitive to heat
- Diarrhoea
- Mood swings or nervousness
- Low sex drive
- Muscle aches
Even if you don’t experience these symptoms, having high thyroid function can put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease and weak bones (osteoporosis).
How can you get a thyroid function blood test?
We offer a kit through our Superdrug Online Doctor service for you to test your thyroid levels (TSH and T4). To order your test kit, simply fill in a short questionnaire. Your kit will be sent to you by post.
Once you have received your kit, follow these steps:
- Collect a drop of blood from your finger using the lancet (pin-prick device) provided with the kit
- Place the drop of blood in the collection kit
- Use the prepaid envelope to post your sample to our partner lab
You will receive the results of your thyroid blood test two to three days after the lab receives your kit. A Superdrug doctor will send you advice based on your results.
You can also get a thyroid blood test through your GP practice. Simply book a face-to-face appointment with your GP who will be able to speak to you about your concerns regarding your thyroid. It’s important to note that some GPs would choose not to do a thyroid blood test unless you are having symptoms of high or low thyroid function.
What thyroid treatments are there?
If you have low or high thyroid levels you should see your GP to find out the cause and to start treatment if appropriate.
If you have low thyroid function, you may need to take replacement thyroid hormones. These can come in the form of tablets called Levothyroxine.
If you have high thyroid function, there are different treatment options:
- Medications: there are several different medications available which work to lower the thyroid function. The most commonly used ones are tablets called carbimazole and propylthiouracil. This can be stopped once your thyroid function comes back to normal. However, some people can be on these medications for a long time
- Radioiodine: this treatment uses radiation delivered via a drink or a capsule to lower the function of your thyroid. It takes a few months for the treatment to reach its full effect, so some people may need to take medications in the meantime
- Surgery: this treatment lowers your thyroid function by removing part or all of the thyroid. This is normally done if you have a very large thyroid (goitre), if you have severe eye-related symptoms from high thyroid function, or if your symptoms have come back after you have tried another treatment option. If all of the thyroid is removed, you will need to take the same medications used with low thyroid function to make up for not having a thyroid gland
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