Testing Your Thyroid: The Definitive Guide to Optimal Ranges

Do you know how important it is to get your thyroid tested? I have put together the definitive guide to help you understand the tests, evaluations and interpreting the results when it comes to thyroid health.

I’m Alan Christianson, Dr. C for short, and your thyroid is essential to your health. If you are at all worried that you might have thyroid disease, let me walk you through everything you need to know today.

You and Your Thyroid

Your thyroid is going to play a major role in your overall health. More and more people are coming to realize that.

Whether it’s for your energy, your mood, your weight, or to prevent the onset of chronic diseases. (Read: How to prevent an underactive thyroid from causing diabetes)

Testing is important because you need to give yourself a sense of where your thyroid health is. If you don’t know, how can you be sure you are doing the right thing?

It’s not always clear who has thyroid disease, and who does not, so testing is going to give us a foundational understanding of where you stand with risk and with treatment.

When it comes to the thyroid range of health, I think it is important to distinguish between “normal” and “optimal”.

When we think about testing, it is not an automatic process. It comes down to who is reading and analyzing your tests:

• Normal – Classifying your thyroid as “normal” does not always mean that your health is where it needs to be. It just means that it is meeting the bottom-line expectations or acceptability.
• Optimal – Instead, we should be aiming for “optimal” – which is always where your thyroid health should be (it is also a narrower approach). We will continue with this in mind.

Thyroid 101

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits in the back of your throat. On a very basic level, it makes hormones that govern metabolism.

One of the main things that the thyroid does is that it absorbs iodine. We get iodine from our diets, and iodine is created in our blood stream.

The thyroid takes that iodine, and it pumps it into a concentrated form. This reaction creates hormones.

Once these hormones are created, they are released into the bloodstream. This is the part where they are secreted in order to perform various jobs all throughout the body. This is going to mainly consist of T4, but we might also see some T3 and T2 in there as well.

These hormones are activated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (otherwise known as TSH – which we are going to be talking a lot about as we move forward).

There is also something called “peripheral activation” in thyroid hormones. This is where T4 is broken down into T3 and T2 by the organs in the cells.

Thyroid Diseases

Now we know the importance of our thyroid. Moving forward, we can start understanding the importance of managing thyroid diseases.

When it comes to thyroid diseases, we need to look at two distinct problems that can occur in the thyroid:

• Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s Disease) – an underactive thyroid gland
• Hyperthyroidism (Grave’s Disease) – an overactive thyroid gland

While we might consistently attribute thyroid problems to both of these diseases, we also need to briefly consider the fact that these problems may be born from medications.

Someone who is taking thyroid medications that are not helping their body might also be suffering from an underactive or an overactive thyroid gland.

Thyroid Test Categories

When we begin a discussion on thyroid testing, we are going to be looking at blood tests.

Let’s go through the typical tests which will help us establish a baseline for our thyroid health, and will give us a sense of how our thyroid is performing overall.

TSH/hs-TSH

This is the test that is going to be used in almost all circumstances. There are some different schools of thought on this subject, but I think it is best that we understand that this test is important, but it’s not the be all and end all for our thyroid health.

Overall, this test is an opportunity to understand how much work the pituitary gland in our brains is asking from our TSH.

When the pituitary is working properly, this number is backward. This means that when it is high the thyroid is underactive, and when it is low, the thyroid is overactive.

According to most labs, the normal range is 0.4 – 4.5¹. This large testing range explains why analyzing these scores requires a great deal of finesse and thought. It is also why diagnosing for treatment is so critical.

A range like this is far too broad, so we need to have other tests help us define what is optimal – rather than what is simply considered normal.

Free T3 & Free T4

This is where we need to create a distinction between the two types of hormones:

• Free Hormones – those which are free and active from carrier proteins.
• Total Hormones – those which are present, but not active.

Free hormones are going to be more important, because they give us a better idea of the active (and effective) hormones in our blood stream. This test is going to give us a sense of how much is:

• Being released
• Circulating
• Being converted (T4 to T3)

Thyroglobulin

Thyroglobulin is a protein that is innate to the thyroid. This test is going to give us a sense of whether or not there is a risk for any inflammation in the thyroid.

Thyroid Antibodies

There are two types of thyroid antibodies:

• Anti-thyroglobulin – an attack on the thyroglobulin, which is a common aspect of Hashimoto’s disease.
• Anti-thyroperoxidase – an enzyme involved with hormone production.

Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI)

Also known as thyroid receptor binding protein, this is a test that is a good indication of Grave’s activity.

This is typically one of the first tests done for diagnosis, and it could also speak to a combination of Hashimoto’s and Grave’s disease – which is quite possible. It is also indicative of Grave’s eye disease².

Reverse T3

As we already know, T3 is the active thyroid hormone. When our body makes T3, it makes two versions:

• T3
• Reverse T3

Think of it like your right hand and your left hand, reverse T3 is the mirror opposite of T3 in your body.

Reverse T3 is inactive, the main thing that you make out of T4 – because of the surplus. When it is too high, your body is stowing it – or you are taking too much thyroid hormone.

Less Common Tests

These are just some of the other tests we might see, but they are not as important and you are less likely to see them. It’s sometimes good to be familiar though, even if you never end up encountering them:

• T7
• T3 RIA
• T3 Uptake

Structural Evaluations

For your thyroid health, you also need to have a good sense of structural evaluations. This is going to be understanding the physical mass, size and health of your thyroid. You can screen for this in three separate ways:

• Ultrasound – Please get an ultrasound. It is important, especially because of instances of thyroid cancer³. Get yourself screened a couple of times a year. There is no radiation, so it is completely harmless – and very helpful.
• Self-Exams – Drink some water, look in the mirror and learn to feel the structure of your thyroid. Know what’s normal, and when something feels wrong. Once you know normal, you’re definitely going to know if something is amiss. 
• Doctor’s Exam – Good part of a yearly physical.

Discovering Root Causes

At the first stage of diagnosis, it is important to understand what gave rise to your thyroid problems in the first place.

Functional medical tests are available to help understand why someone is developing thyroid disease in the first place.

By testing the root causes, you can understand what steps will help your immune system and give you the best chance of reversing thyroid disease.

These are just some of the tests we should be considering:

• Food intolerances
• Toxicology
• Chronic infections and gastrointestinal function
• Nutrient deficiency
• Adrenal dysfunction (daily circadian rhythm)
• Diabetes and blood sugar problems
• Genetic variations

Interpreting Your Results and Your Optimal Ranges

TSH

Really, you want to see this at the lower end of the normal range. But not below it (0.5 to 1.5 is my personal favourite). If someone does have any structural problems, then something narrower might be in order (0.5 to 0.9).

Free Hormones (Free T3 and T4 Tests)

Some authors argue that they should be at the high end of the normal range, I argue that you may not need to be in the high end of the range.

Studies comparing people without thyroid disease to those with it do not find that healthy people free of thyroid disease have higher levels of free hormones.

In many cases, taking thyroid medication can cause hormones to be higher when the TSH is suppressed (which can be a danger).

Thyroid Antibodies

Normal ranges exist for this test, but the optimal that we want to consider is zero. There is a high rate for false positives with this type of test, and more than 40% of those who have Hashimoto’s do not have positive antibodies⁴.

Reverse T3

As we know, most of the T4 that the body produces is intentionally made into reverse T3. When reverse T3 is too high the most common cause, by far, is hyperthyroidism.

Either from someone making too much, or taking too high of a dosage. This is not something I track on an ongoing basis, as it is usually something worth screening in the beginning.

Discovering Your Optimal Thyroid Ranges

When it comes to your optimal thyroid lab levels, these ranges should give you a clearer picture of what you should be aiming for to keep your long-term health secure…

Action Steps for Your Thyroid

Why is testing important?

There are two types of testing that I want to focus on, which are:

• Testing For Diagnosis – This is going to cover all of the tests that I previously mentioned (a full thyroid panel). This way you can really see your baseline levels (and where you stand with your thyroid functions).
• Testing for Dosage – Is your medication working well, is it the right type, and how can we best explain your symptoms?

What time of day do I test?

Do your blood tests first thing in the morning, before eating, and before taking your thyroid medication – you will want to take your daily dose of medication immediately after your tests.

Common Issues with Thyroid Testing

These are some of the common issues we might encounter when testing our thyroid gland:

• T3 Too High – Typically because you took your thyroid medication before an examination. Overall, it speaks to the absorption cycle of T3 in your body. It could lead to well-intending doctors prescribing improper medications.
• TSH Too Low – It’s a bit controversial, but it’s a tough thing to understand. There might have been some who work on a too low TSH, but it’s a numbers game. A low TSH is fine for some, but not fine for others. It’s a risk factor, and so it’s worth understanding. 
• Erratic Antibody Levels – thyroid antibodies are good to confirm diagnoses, but they don’t rule it out. They’re also important to note for fertility⁵. High antibodies, four digits and above, can cause issues. Otherwise, there probably isn’t a lot to say about your problems. They can go up and down randomly.
• TSH Drift – Your TSH isn’t going to level out immediately. It can take about three months for your TSH to level out after you have made a change in your lifestyle. If it’s moving down, it might be enough to say that it was the intent that is wanted, but it won’t reach that state until enough time has passed. Patience is key, so make sure you are keeping an eye on it’s steadiness.

When should you test your thyroid levels?

In terms of testing your thyroid, it helps to have a schedule. Here are some of the most common considerations:

• It should be three months after your last thyroid dose adjustment. It can be sooner, but some of your levels will not be steady.
• In the morning, between 7 – 9AM. Any later in the day, your TSH may become lower.
• Before you take your thyroid medicine. If you take your tests after, your free T3 levels may be artificially higher.
• Prior to any pills or medications and before eating food. If you test after a meal, your TSH may look artificially lower.
• Before coffee or other beverages. These drinks may cause your free T3 and T4 levels to look artificially lower. Just stick with water beforehand.
• If you are pregnant, do know that your levels will have more random fluctuations. It is overall recommended to test each trimester if your levels are stable (more often if you need adjustments).
• When you are a woman with regular menstrual cycles, your thyroid tests should occur between days 1 – 10 or 23 – 28 of your cycle (day 1 is the first day of your menstrual flow). If you test in the other phases, you may skew your TSH and TBG.
• 73 or more hours after taking any amount of biotin. Dietary biotin is not a problem, but biotin in supplements can skew TSH, T4, free T4, ferritin, vitamin D, and other lab markers.

A Schedule for Testing

A schedule for testing looks a little something like this:

• Full panel of testing begins to understand your body’s baseline for health.
• After treatment has started, there will be focused re-tests that are dialed in specifically on treatment.
• After your body has reached a steady state, there are tests once a quarter (one or two).
• Post-program, you will be looking at tests twice a year.

You may also enjoy tests approximately four weeks after dosage changes. As well, any time that you have unusual symptoms where you think your thyroid might be the culprit. This is going to circle back to the importance of self-exams and your thyroid health!

Do you need your thyroid tested?

Testing is not the goal, your overall health is! It is entirely possible to understand the health of your thyroid, and to combat any issues as they come up. Please take the time to complete my thyroid quiz, and give yourself some peace of mind about the state of your thyroid today.

P.S. Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you now:

1. Schedule a Thyroid Second Opinion with me, Dr. C, Click Here for Details
2. Need a Personalized Supplement? Check out My Thyroid Specific Formulations
3. Download and use my Favorite Recipes Cookbook Here
4. Check out my podcast Medical Myths, Legends, and Fairytales Here

Dr. Alan Glen Christianson (Dr. C) is a Naturopathic Endocrinologist and the author of The NY Times bestselling Adrenal Reset Diet, The Metabolism Reset Diet and The Thyroid Reset Diet.

Dr. C’s gift for figuring out what really works has helped hundreds of thousands of people reverse thyroid disease, lose weight, diabetes, and regain energy. Learn more about the surprising story that started his quest.