ThyroScreen

ThyroScreen

Home test for underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Test for low thyroid function in just 10 minutes with our accurate, easy to use home test kit!

ThyroScreen™ is a home kit for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in adults. This thyroid test identifies raised levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which controls the amount of the hormone thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland. When thyroxine levels are too low the level of TSH increases. A raised TSH level therefore indicates an underactive thyroid and is regarded as the most important and sensitive test for hypothyroidism.

Our ThyroScreen test kit has been designed for use at home and comes with clear, step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. The test takes just 10 minutes. A small finger-prick blood sample is taken with a sterile lancet provided in the kit. The blood sample is then transferred to the ThyroScreen™ test cassette using the micropipette provided, and after the addition of six drops of buffer solution the result is shown in 10 minutes. A positive result is given if your TSH concentration is above the normal range (≥ 5 µIU/ml).

The summary below shows you how easy it is to take your finger-prick blood sample, run the test and then interpret your results.

  Everything you need to perform the test is provided in the kit:

• Easy to follow, step-by-step instructions
• A test cassette and diluent dropper bottle
• Two sterile lancets and micropipettes (a spare one of each is included)
• An alcohol swab to sterilise your finger

About Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism)

An underactive thyroid is one of the most common medical conditions affecting up to 1 in 12 people - yet it often remains undiagnosed as it is difficult to identify without a test and by symptoms alone.

Thyroid disorders particularly common in women. An underactive thyroid is 10 times more common in women than in men, and up to 2% of the UK adult population suffers from the condition. The incidence increases with age and up to 8% of women over 50 and men over 65 have an underactive thyroid.

The thyroid gland makes the hormone thyroxine, which is responsible for regulating your body's metabolism and is needed for your body to work normally. If too little thyroxine is produced your metabolism slows down, giving rise to the condition called hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Low levels of thyroxine result in a slowing down of the mental and physical processes of the whole body, giving rise to a wide range of symptoms that include;

• general tiredness
• weight increase
  
• brittle, dry and thinning hair
• dry and coarse skin
  
• heavier and longer periods
• constipation
• memory problems and difficulty concentrating
  
• depression
• muscular weakness

The symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often develop very slowly, are general in nature and vary widely from one person to the next. This makes the condition difficult to identify by symptoms alone and it often goes undiagnosed without a suitable blood test. A test for raised TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels, such as our ThyroScreen test, is regarded as the most important and sensitive test for underactive thyroid.

The most common cause of low thyroid function is autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), a self-destructive process in which the body's immune system attacks the cells of the thyroid gland as though they were foreign cells. Other causes include too little iodine in your diet, the side effects of a treatment or surgery for hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer, and a side effect of eating an excess of some health foods such as kelp (seaweed).

If you are concerned that you may have an underactive thyroid, you can easily test yourself at home with our ThyroScreen Test Kit. This easy to use and reliable test will show if you have a raised TSH level in just 10 minutes.

ThyroScreen™ Frequently Asked Questions

How does ThyroScreen™ work?

ThyroScreen™ gives a positive result if your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level is above 5μIU/ml. TSH controls the amount of thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland and a raised TSH level above this cut-off indicates that you are likely to have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

When should the test be used?

If you have one or more of the symptoms of hypothyroidism including feeling tired and lethargic, weight gain, dry skin and brittle hair, becoming forgetful and sometimes depressed, feeling cold and constipation as well as menstrual irregularities in women, then taking the ThyroScreen™ test for the condition is recommended. The test can be performed at any time of the day but is not recommended if you are already undergoing treatment for a thyroid condition.

Is the test result correct?

ThyroScreen™ has been validated against laboratory tests and is accurate provided the instructions are followed carefully. Please note however that the test result can be adversely affected if the cassette gets wet before the test is performed or if insufficient blood is used. It is important to ensure that the correct volume of blood is collected, as indicated by the black line marked on the pipette.

Are there any instruction videos that would help me to use the test components properly?

Yes, if you are unsure as to how use the lancets or micropipettes provided in the kit we recommend that you watch the manufacturer's instruction videos. To view these short videos on how to use the lancets please go to Unistick 3, and for the micropipettes, please got to Microsafe.

How to interpret the test if the colour and intensity of the lines are different?

The colour and intensity of the test lines are of no importance in the interpretation of the result. The lines only need to be uniform and clearly visible and a line of any colour intensity by the 'Test' mark should be regarded as positive.

If I read the result after 15 minutes, will the result still be valid?

No, the result should be read within 10 minutes of adding the test diluent and is reliable only up to 15 minutes.

What should I do if the test result is positive?

ThyroScreen™ is a screening device for hypothyroidism and a positive test result indicates that you have an under active thyroid gland. We would recommend that you should seek medical advice from your doctor who will conduct further tests and take into account any symptoms of the condition that you may have before making a definitive diagnosis.

What should I do if the test result is negative?

A negative test result indicates that it is very unlikely that you have an under active thyroid gland. However, as no test is 100% effective we would recommend that you consult your doctor if you have worrying symptoms.