An important note: When you order your own blood or saliva tests, the cost of the tests are not likely to be covered by your insurance.
The Thyroid Neck Check
One self-check that may detect some thyroid problems is the thyroid neck check. To take this test, hold a mirror up so that you can see your thyroid area - the neck, just below the Adam's apple and above the collarbone. Tip your head back, and keeping an eye on this thyroid area, take a drink of water and swallow. As you swallow, look at your neck. Watch carefully for any bulges, enlargement, protrusions, or unusual appearances in this area. Repeat this process several times. If you see any bulges, protrusions, lumps or anything that appears unusual, see your doctor right away. (Note: this test cannot rule out thyroid abnormalities. It's just helpful to identify a particularly enlarged thyroid or visible masses.)
Biosafe Fingerstick Blood Test
Biosafe has an FDA-approved fingerstick self-test for levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). You order a test kit, which is sent to your home. You perform a simple fingerstick to collect a small drop of blood, and then mail the test kit back to the company. You typically receive results within a week. This test is limited, however, in that it only gives results as “normal” or “abnormal,” and it uses the pre-2003 accepted normal range of 0.5 to 5.5, not the newer recommendation of 0.3 to 3.0. So, if your results fall within the 0.5 to 5.5 range, your test result will indicate “normal” thyroid function using the Biosafe test kit.
HealthCheckUSA.com Blood Tests
HealthCheckUSA.com offers the opportunity to order FDA-approved blood tests at local LabCorp outlets, without a doctor’s prescription. You need to go to the LabCorp facility and have blood drawn from a vein in your arm. Results give specific hormone values, and the testing process is the same as if your doctor ordered the tests directly. HealthCheckUSA offers five thyroid panels, including:
- Anti-Thyroid Antibodies (Thyroglobulin Antibodies and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies)
- Thyroid panel I (T3 Uptake, T4 Total, T7, and TSH)
- Thyroid Panel II (Free T3, Free T4, and TSH)
- TSI/TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin and TSH)
- TSH
ZRT Laboratory provides both saliva and bloodspot testing. Bloodspot testing is able to provide specific thyroid values, and requires only a small prick of blood, rather than a blood draw from the vein.
ZRT Thyroid Bloodspot Tests include: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free T4, Free T3, Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibody. One popular ZRT test is the Comprehensive Hormone Profile Test, which includes evaluation of the following:
- Thyroid Hormones: TSH, Free T3, FreeT4, Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibody
- Sex Hormones: Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone
- Adrenal Hormones - DHEA, Cortisol (AM, noon, evening and PM)
Diagnos-Techs
Diagnos-Techs performs a full range of salivary hormone testing. Their Comprehensive Panel measures the following:
- Thyroid Hormones: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, microsomal antibody
- Adrenal Hormones: DHEA, Cortisol (AM, noon, evening and PM)
- Sex Hormones: Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone
Mary Shomon, About.com's Thyroid Guide since 1997, is a nationally-known patient advocate and best-selling author of 10 books on health, including "The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age," "The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss," "Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know," "The Thyroid Guide to Hair Loss," "Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism," "Living Well With Autoimmune Disease," and "Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia." Click here for more information on Mary Shomon.
