T4 Free

The T4 Free test measures the amount of "free" thyroxine in your blood. Unlike Total T4, which includes hormone bound to proteins, Free T4 is the active form that is immediately available for your body's tissues to use. This makes it a more accurate reflection of how your thyroid is functioning, especially if you have an abnormal TSH result.

What This Test Covers

• Free Thyroxine (T4): Measures the active, unbound hormone that regulates your metabolism.

• Direct Thyroid Output: Provides a clear view of how much hormone the thyroid gland is actually producing.

Why Order This Test?

• Follow-up on TSH: Usually the next step if a TSH test comes back too high or too low.

• Accurate Metabolism Check: Helps confirm hyperthyroidism (overactive) or hypothyroidism (underactive).

• Pregnancy and Hormones: More reliable than Total T4 for women on birth control or who are pregnant, as these factors can skew other thyroid tests.

• Medication Monitoring: Used to track the effectiveness of thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

• Pituitary Evaluation: Helps determine if a thyroid issue is caused by the thyroid gland itself or a problem with the pituitary gland.

Fast and Private Results

• Preparation: No fasting is required for this test.

• Turnaround Time: Results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours.

• Confidential: Your results are delivered securely to your private portal and are not shared with insurance providers.