Buy Thyroid Home Test Kits Online | Superdrug Online Doctor

Medication	Pack Size	Price
Thyroid Function Test Kit	1 test kit	£64.99

Medication

Pack Size

Price

Thyroid Function Test Kit

1 test kit

£64.99

How our service works

How to order testing online

You can order a test kit if you’re over 18 years old.

To order your test kit:

Fill out a short online assessment. If you are ordering a test kit, you will be asked about your preferences regarding the kit
Your order can then be posted to your preferred address or you can collect it from a local Superdrug store instead

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)

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

To place an order, fill in a brief questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your order and prescribe a treatment if suitable. Existing patients should login first.

Start Order