When is the Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Test (TSH) ordered?
The doctor may order a TSH test when a patient has symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroidism and/or when a patient has an enlarged thyroid gland. It may be ordered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of treatment when a patient is being treated for a known thyroid disorder. TSH screening is routinely performed in the United States on newborns as part of each state’s newborn screening program. The American Thyroid Association recommends that adults older than age 35 be screened for thyroid disease with a TSH test every five years, although other organizations, such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, challenge this recommendation. Several organizations recommend instead screening women over 50 or those at high risk for thyroid disorders, such as pregnant and postpartum women.
