Definition
T4 (thyroxine) is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. A laboratory test can be done to measures the amount of the T4 in your blood.
Alternative Names
Thyroxine test
Why the Test is Performed
This test is done as part of an evaluation of thyroid function. Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of a thyroid disorder. Thyroid function is complex and depends on the action of many different hormones, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and T3 (triiodothyronine).
T4 levels are important, because T4 increases numerous substances that produce energy for the body.
Most T4 is transported by proteins. If T4 is not attached to a protein, it is called "free" T4.
Conditions under which the test may be performed:
How the Test is Performed
Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
How to Prepare for the Test
Your health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test.
Drugs that can increase T4 measurements include:
- Birth control pills
- Clofibrate
- Estrogens
- Methadone
Drugs that can decrease T4 measurements include:
- Anabolic steroids
- Androgens
- Antithyroid drugs (for example, propylthiouracil and methimazole)
- Interferon alpha
- Interleukin-2
- Lithium
- Phenytoin
- Propranolol
This list may not be all inclusive.
How the Test Will Feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Risks
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Normal Results
A typical normal range is 4.5 to 11.2 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL).
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Greater-than-normal levels of T4 along with low levels of TSH may be due to conditions that involve an overactive thyroid, including:
- Early Hashimoto's disease
- Graves disease
- Germ cell tumors
- Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism
- Subacute or chronic thyroiditis
- Toxic multinodular goiter
- Trophoblastic disease
Lower-than-normal levels of T4 may indicate:
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