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Total T3 test measures free as well as bound T3. Another test that only measures free T3 which is the free T3 test. The total T3 test is a comprehensive test that provides information about the health of the thyroid gland. T3 tests help diagnose hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism health conditions. The triiodothyronine hormone is directly synthesized by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is present near the throat and it makes two main hormones. One of them is the T3 hormone and the other is the T4 hormone or thyroxine. T4 and T3 hormones work in conjunction with each other for regulating the utilization of energy in the body. Labwork360 provides total T3 test in Houston and mobile phlebotomy/at-home specimen collection for it as well as for other diagnostic tests.
Thyroid hormones have the following main functions in the body:
Regulating metabolism
Body temperature regulation
Maintaining the strength of muscles
Controlling the weight
Nervous system health
T3 hormone has two main forms:
Bound T3 remains attached to protein
Free T3 does not attach itself to anything
T3 total test is alternatively also called total triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, FT3, and thyroid function test. Labwork360 provides total T3 test in Houston as well as other tests for analyzing the health of the thyroid gland.
The total T3 test and free T3 test are generally prescribed after abnormal results of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. Low total T3 levels indicate hypothyroidism. Moreover, low total T3 is also a sign of starvation. The following problems can cause an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism):
Radiation treatment
Autoimmune disease
Thyroid surgery
The main purpose of the T3 test is to diagnose hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the body synthesizes excessive thyroid hormone. Moreover, the total T3 test is used for monitoring the treatment of thyroid health problems. Total T3 test measures T3 hormone level which is a significant hormone for metabolism and several other processes. As T4 and T3 hormones regulate the storage and utilization of energy in the body (metabolism), so they influence several processes in the body.
Moreover, the T3 total blood test diagnoses hypothyroidism. T3 tests generally take place along with the TSH and T4 tests.
The following symptoms indicate you need to get the T3 test:
Tremors in the hands
Weight loss
Anxiety
Increased heart rate
Insomnia
Sensitivity to heat
Fatigue
Bulging eyes
More frequent bowel movements
Generally, the total T3 test does not require any preparation. However, certain medications can decrease or increase the T3 levels, so the healthcare practitioner will inform you if you have to cease taking those medications before getting the total T3 test.
Getting a total T3 test in Houston is convenient for everyone as this test can also be ordered at home and it only tests blood specimens. Contact Labwork to get the total T3 test in Houston at your place. T3 total test is a low-risk and quick test as it only uses blood specimens.
Hyperthyroidism is very common in the USA and about every 1 in 100 Americans aged 12 years and more have hyperthyroidism. Moreover, according to a survey from the National Health and Nutrition Examination, about 1 in every 300 individuals in the USA has hypothyroidism. The risk of hypothyroidism increases with age and females are at a higher risk than males having thyroid disease. Thyroid problems can also occur in children.
Experts consider the total T3 test to be more reliable than the free T3 test. Total T3 helps diagnose the details of the following conditions:
Disorder of the pituitary gland
Hyperthyroidism diagnosis
Analyzing the reasons for an overactive thyroid gland
Monitor the response of a patient to the hyperthyroidism treatment
Metabolism disorders
Triiodothyronine (T3) is one of the two main hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. The T4 hormone is also called thyroxine and it is called T4 because it consists of 4 atoms of iodine. The T4 hormone is converted into the T3 hormone by removing an iodine atom from it. This takes place primarily in the liver and in specific tissues where T3 is utilized, for instance, in the brain.
T4 and T3 hormones affect all organs and every cell of the body by impacting the rate of utilization of energy (calories) in the body. Thus, these hormones impact weight gain and weight loss and can speed up or slow down the heart rate.
The total T3 test is considered more reliable than the free T3 test. TSH is a different hormone than T3 and T4 hormones. The pituitary gland secretes TSH when the T4 and T3 hormone levels become very low. This condition triggers the thyroid gland to make more hormones. Thus, TSH causes the thyroid gland to produce more T4 and T3 hormones.
The thyroid gland secretes about 20% of T3 into the bloodstream, the remaining 80% T3 is formed through the conversion of T4 into T3 by removing an iodine atom from it. This conversion of T4 into T3 takes place in the kidney and liver organs.
High levels of T4 and T3 hormones decrease the release of TSH from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, whereas low quantities of T4 and T3 increase the release of TSH. T3 is the predominant inhibitor of the secretion of TSH. The negative feedback loop makes the TSH secretion more sensitive to slight changes in the free T4 levels, hence the abnormal levels of TSH are identified before those of free T4 in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism conditions.
Weight gain occurs when the T4 and T3 levels are low, whereas, the TSH levels are high.
T3 levels get abnormally high in some patients in the early stages of Graves’ disease and nodular goiter. This takes place due to the excessive conversion of T4 hormone to T3 and an excessive increase in the secretion of T3.
Subclinical hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when the patient has low TSH levels along with normal levels of T3 and free T4.
Selenium is the necessary trace element for the conversion of T4 hormone to T3. Hence, it is necessary to daily eat foods that contain selenium, to sustain their optimal levels and their conversion. The sources of selenium are cereal grains, fish, avocados, mushrooms, walnuts, and brazil nuts.
The normal range for total T3 is between 0.9 - 2.8 nmol/L or 60 - 180 ng/dL.
The normal range of T3 in the second trimester is 1.7 to 4.3 nmol/L, and in the third trimester is 0.4 to 3.9 nmol/L.
Labwork360 provides secure and reliable medical diagnostic testing in Houston. Our lab is fully licensed and it maintains high-quality testing equipment for conducting all the tests. All tests are carried out meticulously by following the standard procedures and we also provide results in a short time. We make it easy for you to get a total T3 test in Houston at any time by providing a mobile phlebotomy service so you can call us to visit you to collect the specimens for the tests.
It would only take you 5 minutes to submit blood specimens for the T3 test as this test only uses blood samples.
No, there is not any risk involved in taking the total T3 test as a blood draw is a low-risk process.