Test guide
TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) Test
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone . Another name for it is thyrotropin. A TSH test is a blood test that measures this hormone. A TSH level that is too high or too low may be a sign of a thyroid problem .
What it is for
A TSH test is used to find out how well your thyroid is working. It can tell if you have hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) or hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) in your blood. But a TSH test can't show what is causing a thyroid problem. If you take prescription thyroid hormone medicine because of hypothyroidism or because you had your thyroid removed, you'll have regular TSH tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. This testing is done to check that you are taking the right dose of the medicine. TSH tests are also used to monitor your thyroid hormone levels after treatment for hyperthyroidism. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Medical test information is public domain. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Limitations
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also known as
- thyrotropin test, thyrotropic hormone
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