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Thyroid Health

Essential Thyroid Check

Three essential thyroid markers — TSH, Free T4, Free T3 — to screen for over- or under-active thyroid function.

3 biomarkers Home kit available Results in 3 to 5 working days
4.8 (214 reviews)
£49.00

or 4 interest-free payments of £12.25 with Klarna

Collection method Self-collected fingerstick
Quantity 1 kit
1
UKAS accredited ISO 15189 laboratory
UK GDPR secure Barcoded, anonymous sample
GMC-reviewed Physician-signed report
Essential Thyroid Check
UKAS ISO 15189
Accredited
Product description

A three-marker thyroid panel measuring TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 — the standard markers for assessing thyroid hormone production and conversion.

Your thyroid gland regulates metabolism, energy, mood, temperature, and weight. When it under- or over-produces hormones, the effects ripple across virtually every body system. The Essential Thyroid Check measures the three key markers that clinicians use to assess thyroid status: TSH (the pituitary signal that drives thyroid output), Free T4 (the main hormone the gland secretes), and Free T3 (the active form that cells actually use).

Together these three values give a clear picture of whether your thyroid axis is functioning normally, overactive, or underactive. The test is popular with people experiencing unexplained fatigue, difficulty losing weight, cold intolerance, hair thinning, brain fog, or mood changes — all common presentations of thyroid dysfunction.

Collect your sample at home with our fingerstick kit, book a mobile phlebotomist, or visit a partner clinic. Results are reviewed by a GMC-registered physician and returned to your secure online dashboard within 3 to 5 working days.

Reviewed by the Trupoint medical board · Last updated May 2026
What we measure

Every biomarker, explained

Understand what each marker measures, why it matters, and what the science says — not just a list of numbers.

3
Biomarkers in this panel
1
Physiological systems covered
1
Sample
24 - 48
Hours
3 MARKERS

Thyroid Axis

Pituitary signal that drives thyroid hormone production; the primary screening marker for thyroid dysfunction.

Main hormone secreted by the thyroid gland; precursor converted to the active Free T3 in peripheral tissues.

The biologically active thyroid hormone that acts on cells to regulate energy, temperature, and metabolism.

Is this right for me?

Who this test is for

This panel is designed for adults who want a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of their metabolic health — not a GP referral panel.

People Experiencing Unexplained Fatigue

People experiencing unexplained fatigue or low energy

Those Noticing Unexpected Weight Gain

Those noticing unexpected weight gain or difficulty losing weight

With Hair Thinning

Anyone with hair thinning, cold intolerance, or brain fog

Those Monitoring Thyroid Health As Part

Those monitoring thyroid health as part of a general wellness routine

Not appropriate for Individuals already under active thyroid care who require full antibody assessment. Those with known Hashimoto's or Graves' disease needing a more comprehensive panel
Transparency

Test limitations

This panel screens the central thyroid axis but does not measure thyroid antibodies (TPO or TG), which are essential for diagnosing autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease. It does not include Reverse T3, which can be relevant in complex or chronic illness presentations. A normal TSH result does not exclude all forms of thyroid pathology; clinical symptoms should always be discussed with a qualified physician. This test is not intended to diagnose, treat, or manage any medical condition. If your results fall outside the reference range, a follow-up consultation with a GP or endocrinologist is recommended.

Reviewed annually by our medical advisory board.
The process

How it works

From order to physician-reviewed report in as little as three working days.

Day 0

Order online and receive your home collection kit within 2 to 3 working days

Day 1

Collect a small fingerstick blood sample first thing in the morning before any medication

Day 2

Return your sample using the prepaid Royal Mail envelope

Day 3

Receive your results on your secure Trupoint Health dashboard within 3 to 5 working days

Sample collection

Choose how you collect

Three options designed to fit your schedule, location, and preference — all producing a laboratory-standard sample.

Eligibility

Adults 18+ in mainland UK. Not suitable if you have had a transfusion in the last 3 months.

Availability

Order anytime; kit dispatched within 24 hours Mon–Fri.

Turnaround

Allow 24–48 hours for sample transit on top of lab processing time.

Why Trupoint

Built on rigorous science and UK regulatory standards

Every test is processed in a UKAS ISO 15189-accredited laboratory, overseen by GMC-registered physicians, and governed by UK GDPR. No overseas processing, no offshore data.

ISO 15189 accredited laboratory
CQC-registered collection service
GMC-registered physician review
GDPR-compliant data handling
MHRA-compliant sample processing
2.4M+
tests processed
99.4%
on-time results
11 yrs
average lab tenure
Before your test

Preparation instructions

Follow these guidelines to ensure accurate, reproducible results. Most markers are sensitive to recent food, exercise, and sleep.

Please do

  • Take your sample first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything other than water
  • Take before any thyroid medication if applicable (discuss timing with your prescriber)
  • Ensure your hands are warm before collecting a fingerstick sample

Please avoid

  • Do not take biotin supplements for at least 48 hours before sampling — biotin can interfere with thyroid assays
  • Do not exercise vigorously in the 24 hours before collection
  • Do not collect your sample if you are acutely unwell — wait until you have recovered
Support

Frequently asked questions

Can't find your answer? Our clinical support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

Contact support

Frequently Asked Questions

What does TSH actually measure?

TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is produced by the pituitary gland in your brain, not the thyroid itself. It acts as a messenger signal: when the pituitary detects that thyroid hormone levels are low, it releases more TSH to prompt the thyroid to produce more. A high TSH therefore often indicates an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), while a low TSH can suggest an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). TSH is the single most sensitive early marker for thyroid dysfunction and is always the first result clinicians examine.

Why test Free T3 and Free T4 separately?

T4 is the thyroid’s main output hormone, but it must be converted to the more active T3 in peripheral tissues such as the liver, gut, and muscles. Some individuals convert T4 to T3 poorly — a pattern that TSH and T4 alone would miss. By measuring Free T3 (the unbound, biologically active fraction), this panel helps identify situations where T4 is normal but T3 is low, which can explain persistent symptoms in people already on standard levothyroxine therapy.

Do I need to stop my thyroid medication before testing?

Generally, you should take your sample before your morning levothyroxine dose to get a true baseline reading, rather than a post-dose peak. However, the appropriate timing depends on your specific medication, dose, and what your prescriber wants to assess. Always check with your GP or endocrinologist before altering your medication schedule. This test does not replace your NHS monitoring; it supplements it.

Can biotin supplements affect my results?

Yes. Biotin (vitamin B7), commonly taken for hair and nail health, is used in the laboratory assays for TSH, FT4, and FT3. High-dose biotin supplementation can interfere with results, producing falsely low TSH or falsely elevated T4 and T3 values. Please stop any biotin-containing supplements at least 48 hours before collecting your sample. Standard multivitamin doses are generally fine, but higher-dose standalone biotin supplements (5 mg or more) should definitely be paused.

What is the normal range for TSH?

The standard reference range for adults is approximately 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L, though this varies slightly between laboratories and age groups. Trupoint Health’s UKAS-accredited laboratory uses age-adjusted reference intervals that are shown alongside your result. A result within range does not guarantee the absence of thyroid dysfunction; symptoms and clinical context matter. Your results are reviewed by a GMC-registered physician who considers all three values together rather than any single marker in isolation.

How is this test different from what my GP offers?

NHS GPs often screen with TSH alone, and only add FT4 if TSH is abnormal. This panel includes all three markers — TSH, FT4, and Free T3 — as a single assessment, giving you a more complete picture of your thyroid axis from one sample. It is a private test and does not replace NHS care, but many people find the added detail useful, particularly if they have ongoing symptoms despite a ‘normal’ NHS TSH result.

How long does it take to get my results?

Results are typically available within 3 to 5 working days of your sample being received by the laboratory. You will receive an email notification as soon as your results are ready on your secure Trupoint Health dashboard, where you can view your values alongside reference ranges and physician commentary.