Feeling tired despite a full night's sleep, sensitivity to cold, hair loss, dry skin, changes in body weight, or heart palpitations — these are the most common reasons patients in Glasgow get their thyroid checked. However, a TSH test alone is often not enough.
Which tests are really worth doing
TSH is a good screening test, but if you have symptoms, it's worth adding FT3 and FT4 straight away. If an autoimmune disease is suspected, anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies should also be included. This panel helps to distinguish subclinical hypothyroidism from overt hypothyroidism and to detect Hashimoto's disease.
You can find the full thyroid panel in the Hormones and Specialist Prevention category.
- TSH — screening test
- FT3 & FT4 — actual concentration of free hormones
- anti-TPO, anti-TG — autoimmunity (Hashimoto's, Graves' disease)
- Ferritin, Vitamin D, B12 — parameters associated with co-existing symptoms
How to prepare for your test
Have your blood drawn in the morning, ideally between 7:00 and 10:00 AM, on an empty stomach. If you take levothyroxine, take your tablet after the blood draw. Stop taking biotin (often found in hair supplements) 3 days beforehand, as it can interfere with immunochemical test results.
Women testing female hormones (FSH, LH, oestradiol, progesterone) should book their appointment for a specific phase of their menstrual cycle — usually days 2-5, and for progesterone, around day 21.
Prices and booking
Individual hormone tests start from £39, and a full thyroid panel is cheaper than ordering tests separately. A mandatory £25 service fee is added to every appointment (for blood collection, sample handling, and shipping to the laboratory).
Check prices in the test catalogue and choose a morning slot in our booking system.
When to repeat the test
After a change in medication dosage, a follow-up test is usually performed after 6-8 weeks. If your results are normal and you have no symptoms, a check-up once every 12 months is sufficient. The most convenient way to do this is with our annual health check-up package.
