Thyroid Blood Test

Although anyone can develop thyroid problems, you are at increased risk if you:

• Are a woman. Women are 8 to 10 times more likely to develop thyroid disorders than men.
• Are over 50 years of age.
• Have been pregnant in the past 6 months.
• Have a family history of thyroid disease.
• Have an autoimmune disease, such as type 1 diabetes or coeliac disease.
• Are a smoker.
• Have been exposed to radiation therapy, especially around the neck.
• Have been treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medication.

This home test screens for the most important thyroid biomarkers and can tell you if your thyroid is not functioning properly. The Homed-IQ thyroid test requires only a few drops of blood as a sample and can be easily taken from the comfort of your home. After obtaining your online test results, you can easily see and understand your levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3 and T4.

Read here how to recognise the first symptoms of thyroid problems.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones T3 and T4. This can be caused by different conditions, such as:

• Autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Thyroid surgery
• Certain medications
• Radiation therapy in the head or neck area
• Iodine deficiency
• Disorders of the pituitary gland
• Congenital conditions

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too much of thyroid hormones T3 and T4. This can be caused by different conditions, such as:

• Autoimmune conditions such as Grave’s Disease and Plummer’s Disease
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland (Thyroiditis)
• Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
• Too much iodine in the body
• A noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland

Yes, both hyper and hypothyroidism are treatable. Hyperthyroidism is generally treated with anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine, which causes the thyroid to shrink. In certain cases, the thyroid is also removed. However, this requires the individual to take synthetic hormones for the rest of their life to maintain normal hormone levels. Hypothyroidism is treated with daily use of synthetic thyroid hormones, which restores adequate hormone levels and reverses symptoms.

At-home blood testing is a safe, reliable way to complete a wide range of diagnostic and preventative health screening tests without needing to leave your home. All blood tests sold by Homed-IQ are just as effective as the tests you’d do in-person at your physician, medical clinic, laboratory or hospital. This means they have been scientifically validated to perform as well as an in-office test. All our at-home test kits come complete with everything you need to collect your sample, including a comprehensive step-by-step guide to ensure your sample is collected correctly.

Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths of thyroid cells on the thyroid gland. Thyroid nodules often cause no symptoms and are usually benign. In rare cases, thyroid nodules can be cancerous. There is no indication that you have thyroid nodules unless they become large enough to be seen or felt.

In some cases, thyroid nodules can produce excessive levels of thyroxine (T4). An excess of T4 can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which can be detected with a thyroid blood test. If you suspect you have thyroid nodules, contact your general practitioner for an examination.