TFT Blood Test

Submitted by Nic on October 18, 2012

The thyroid gland is one of the important glands of the human body. The thyroid gland is located in the throat and controls the important function of metabolism. Metabolism is the function that produces energy for the body as well as heat. This is one basic process that is essential for life. Slow metabolism will mean a chronic lack of energy. Slow metabolism may also cause the individual to put on weight as food will not be burned as effectively and its remainder will be stored in the body.

The TFT blood test is an abbreviation of the phrase Thyroid Function Test. The TFT blood test therefore refers to any sort of test conducted on a sample of blood with the thyroid gland in mind. There are a few different tests conducted on a sample of blood to establish the condition of this gland. Read more on LFT blood test as well.

When the thyroid gland is secreting slowly, the condition is known as hypothyroidism. This may result in chronic fatigue, cold body temperature and weight gain. The opposite condition is that of hyperthyroidism where the individual may experience high energy levels and excess body temperature due to high tft blood test levels. It should be noted that the changes in body temperature from hypothyroidism to normal to hyperthyroidism are usually minute, just within a few decimal points of each other.

There are a few different types of TFT blood tests. The TFT blood test may be conducted to check for the functioning of the thyroid stimulating hormone TSH. Another TFT blood test is the T3 blood test where the specific variant of thyroid hormone T3 is tested for.

As far as the patient is concerned, the thyroid function test is a simple blood test which is administered in a clinic or in a hospital. Blood is drawn from a vein in the upper forearm. This blood is then sent to the laboratory where it is analyzed for many different components that make it up. It is in the laboratory that the actual testing occurs and in this place, testing may be conducted in several different ways. Different components of the blood relating to thyroid function may be tested based on the requirements of the doctor who has ordered the test.

TFT blood test results will be used to understand the state of the gland. Once the state of the gland is understood, the doctor will be able to prescribe the correct treatment to either supplement the functioning of the thyroid or to try and improve its functioning through targeted medication.

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