Buy an anti-TPO test and check your thyroid antibodies

When you deal with tiredness, weight changes, hair loss or an irregular cycle, the thyroid is often one of the first things to look at. An anti-TPO test can help here, because antibodies against your own thyroid tissue can say something about a possible autoimmune process.

Anti-TPO and anti-Tg are antibodies that your immune system sometimes makes against your own thyroid. Raised values may point to autoimmune involvement, such as in Hashimoto disease. Combined with TSH, free T4 and free T3, this offers a broader view than a single TSH measurement.

This test can be useful if you have complaints that could fit with an overactive or underactive thyroid. Think of persistent tiredness, palpitations, a restless feeling, feeling cold easily, or changes in your weight, mood or menstrual cycle.

It can also be valuable if thyroid problems run in your family, or if you are trying to conceive and want to know how your thyroid is doing. Autoimmune thyroid conditions are more common in women than in men.

This panel measures five markers in your blood:

• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): the hormone your brain uses to steer the thyroid; often the first marker that says something about the balance.
• Free T4 (Thyroxine): the main thyroid hormone circulating freely in your blood.
• Free T3 (Triiodothyronine): the more active form of thyroid hormone.
• TPO Antibodies: antibodies against the enzyme thyroid peroxidase, often raised in autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Thyroglobulin Antibodies: antibodies against thyroglobulin, a protein your thyroid uses to make hormones.

The combination of hormones and antibodies can give you a more nuanced picture than a single value. TSH, free T4 and free T3 show how active your thyroid is right now, while anti-TPO and anti-Tg can say something about a possible autoimmune process in the background.

Sometimes your thyroid hormones may still fall within the reference range while antibodies are already raised. That can be a signal you can look into further with your GP.

This test requires a small blood draw at a certified lab. In the Netherlands you can choose from more than 750 sample locations, so there is almost always one near you.

After ordering, you pick a location and a moment that suits you. The draw itself usually takes only a few minutes, and you do not need a referral from your GP.

An extended thyroid panel can be useful at different moments, for example:

• when you recognise complaints that could fit a thyroid issue and want more clarity
• when you had an abnormal TSH before and want to see the broader picture
• when thyroid conditions run in your family and you are curious about your antibodies
• when you are trying to conceive or are newly pregnant and want to know how your thyroid is doing

Your result shows each marker together with a reference range. For the hormones, a value above or below the range can say something about an overactive or underactive thyroid. For the antibodies, the result usually indicates whether they are raised or not.

Raised antibodies do not automatically mean you will develop complaints, and a normal result does not rule everything out. That is why a doctor looks at the whole picture and helps you place your values in the right context.

For a thyroid test you usually do not need to fast, and no special preparation is required. If you take supplements containing biotin, it can be helpful to mention this at your appointment, because biotin may affect some thyroid measurements.

Otherwise, you can plan the appointment at a moment that suits you.

Your result is usually available online within a few working days. Each value is shown clearly with a reference range and an explanation, so you understand what you see.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.