Thyroid panel blood testing at Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL. If you have fatigue, weight changes or other thyroid symptoms, walk in to talk with our team about testing TSH and thyroid hormones. Same-day walk-in visits, no appointment needed.
A thyroid panel is a group of blood tests that shows how well your thyroid gland is working. It usually starts with TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and may include free T4, free T3 and thyroid antibodies. At Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, lab testing is available, and our team can help decide which tests fit your symptoms.
MedlinePlus explains that a high TSH often points to an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and a low TSH often points to an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Your provider will look at your results together with your symptoms and history.
Key facts
The American Thyroid Association advises not taking biotin for 2 days before a thyroid blood test, because it can make results look abnormal.
TSH is usually the first test; a high TSH with a low free T4 points to an underactive thyroid.
Pregnancy and estrogen-containing birth control can raise total T4 and T3, so TSH and free T4 are used instead.
Thyroid antibody tests help show whether Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease is behind abnormal results.
What a thyroid panel checks and common symptoms
Tests that may be included
TSH: made by the pituitary gland; it tells the thyroid how much hormone to make
Free T4: the main thyroid hormone available for the body to use
T3 or free T3: often checked when an overactive thyroid is suspected
Thyroid antibodies: can help find autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease
MedlinePlus notes that underactive thyroid symptoms often develop slowly, over months or years.
How thyroid testing works at our Westmont, IL clinic
The provider will ask about your symptoms, medicines, family history and any past thyroid problems. Then they will recommend which tests to order. The sample is a blood draw from a vein in the arm, which usually takes less than five minutes.
Tell the provider about every medicine and supplement you take. Do not stop any medicine unless your doctor tells you to
You usually do not need to fast for a thyroid test alone. If other blood tests are ordered at the same time, you may be asked to fast
Pregnancy, birth control pills and some other medicines can affect thyroid results, so mention them
A thyroid panel shows whether hormone levels are off, but not always why. The NIDDK notes that further tests, such as an ultrasound or thyroid scan, may be needed. Your provider will explain your results and recommend follow-up with your primary care provider or a specialist when needed.
When to seek emergency care
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Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for chest pain, a very fast or pounding heartbeat with dizziness or fainting, trouble breathing, confusion, high fever with agitation, or signs of a stroke such as face drooping, arm weakness or trouble speaking.
A thyroid test is not an emergency test. If you feel very unwell, get emergency care first.
Related lab services and nearby communities
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Other lab and wellness services patients often pair with thyroid testing:
Walk-ins are welcome at both of our locations: the main clinic at 29 N Cass Ave, Ste A, Westmont, IL 60559, and our second location inside Jewel-Osco at 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. Both are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call (630) 324-6825, or check in online before you arrive.
Please call ahead to confirm which lab tests are offered at the location you plan to visit, and whether you should fast.
We accept most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO), BCBS Advocate Good Samaritan (HMO), Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Meridian and CountyCare. Coverage varies, so please call to confirm your plan. Read more on our cost and insurance page.
No insurance? Self-pay patients get flat, upfront pricing, with a general visit from $125. Ask about the price of any tests before they are done. See self-pay urgent care pricing.
Reading a thyroid panel: common patterns
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General patterns from the American Thyroid Association; your clinician reads results with your symptoms and history
TSH
Free T4
What it often means
High
Low
Underactive thyroid (primary hypothyroidism)
Low
High
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Normal
Normal
The thyroid is usually working normally
Low
Low or normal
Less common; can occasionally point to a pituitary problem
T3 is most helpful when an overactive thyroid is suspected. The ATA notes it rarely helps diagnose an underactive thyroid, because T3 is the last test to become abnormal.
Thyroid antibody tests explained
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Based on the American Thyroid Association
Antibody test
What it helps show
TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies
Support a diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in someone with an underactive thyroid
TSI (thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin)
The antibody that drives the overactive thyroid in Graves' disease
TRAb (TSH receptor antibodies)
Helps confirm Graves' disease, track treatment, and assess risk during pregnancy
Antibody levels do not need to be repeated to track treatment for an underactive thyroid. TSH and free T4 do that job.
Before your thyroid blood test
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Check your supplements for biotin, which is common in hair, skin and nail vitamins. The ATA advises not taking it for 2 days before the draw. Ask your clinician before stopping anything.
Bring a list of every medicine and supplement you take.
Tell us if you are pregnant or use estrogen-containing birth control.
If you take thyroid medicine, ask whether to take your dose before or after the blood draw that day.
Fasting is usually not needed for a thyroid test alone, but other tests ordered at the same time might need it.
Thyroid conditions are usually long-term. Once a cause is found, repeat TSH and free T4 tests help your clinician adjust treatment. Our primary care team can follow your results over time, and we can refer you to a specialist when needed.
Usually not for a thyroid test alone. If other blood tests are ordered at the same visit, you may need to fast. Your provider will tell you.
What does a high TSH mean?
A high TSH often means the thyroid is not making enough hormone (hypothyroidism). A low TSH often means it is making too much. Other tests help confirm the cause.
Can I get a thyroid test without a referral?
Yes. You can walk in or check in online and discuss testing with our provider.
Why would I need thyroid antibody tests?
Antibody tests can help show whether an autoimmune condition, such as Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease, is affecting your thyroid.
Can biotin affect thyroid test results?
Yes. The American Thyroid Association says biotin, a common supplement, can make several thyroid tests look abnormal even when blood levels are normal. It advises not taking biotin for 2 days before your blood draw. Check with your clinician before stopping any supplement.
What is a normal TSH level?
Each lab sets its own reference range, so the normal range printed on your report is the one to use. In most healthy people, a TSH in that range means the thyroid is working properly. Your clinician reads TSH together with free T4 and your symptoms.
Do I need a free T3 test?
Usually not at first. The ATA notes T3 is most useful when an overactive thyroid is suspected, and free T3 tests are often less reliable. Most people start with TSH and free T4, and your clinician adds other tests if needed.
Can pregnancy change thyroid test results?
Yes. Pregnancy raises the proteins that carry thyroid hormone, which can make total T4 and T3 read high. That is why TSH and free T4 are checked during pregnancy. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant or might be.
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