t testing

[JohnFor]

What is the difference between free t3, free t4 and t3 uptake,t4 total

[AR-10]

T4 and T3 are thyroid hormones. They are released into the blood and every cell in your body uses the T3. The T4 is converted to T3 as it is needed, sort of like a storage system for T3. This conversion takes place in various organs other than the thyroid.

When the T4 and T3 is released by the thyroid, it enters the blood stream and most of both hormones is quickly bound by proteins in the blood. This binding process makes the hormones unavailable, and is another form of storage and control.

SO...

A Free T4 test or a Free T3 test measures how much of each hormone is available to be used by your body. It measures the active levels available. The "free" hormones are the ones ready to roll, so to speak.

A total T4 test measures all the T4 in the blood, both what is available and what is bound. It is less acurate because it is an older style test, and on top of that it measures hormones that are not usable, making it fairly worthless when trying to determine if your hormone levels are sufficient.

A total T3 test has the same flaws.

A T3 uptake test is used to measure the binding proteins, which can be valuable information, but only if used in conjunction with other thyroid tests that are old, inacurate tests. It can detect a problem, but it is not a problem that crops up very often, so it is considered a waste of time in most cases.  

[ChitChatNine]

WELCOME to the COMMUNITY .. I am not experienced enough with the T3's/4's to be able to answer your ? but wanted to stop by and say HELLO~

Cheryl