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TEST ID T4 T4 (Thyroxine), Total Only, Serum

Reporting Name

T4 (Thyroxine), Total Only, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Ordering Guidance


This test cannot be used in patients receiving treatment with lipid-lowering agents containing dextrothyroxine unless therapy is discontinued for 4 to 6 weeks to allow the physiological state to become reestablished prior to testing.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.75 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  30 days

Testing Algorithm

For information see Thyroid Function Ordering Algorithm.

Method Name

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

Pediatric

0-5 days: 5.0-18.5 mcg/dL

6 days-2 months: 5.4-17.0 mcg/dL

3-11 months: 5.7-16.0 mcg/dL

1-5 years: 6.0-14.7 mcg/dL

6-10 years: 6.0-13.8 mcg/dL

11-19 years: 5.9-13.2 mcg/dL

 

Adult (≥20 years): 4.5-11.7 mcg/dL

 

For SI unit Reference Values, see www.mayocliniclabs.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

84436

Useful For

Monitoring treatment with synthetic hormones (synthetic triiodothyronine [T3] will cause a low total thyroxine [T4])

 

Monitoring treatment of hyperthyroidism with thiouracil and other anti-thyroid drugs

 

Index of thyroid function when the thyroxine-binding globulin is normal and non-thyroidal illness is not present