Free triiodothyronine (fT3)

Test/Investigation

Free triiodothyronine (fT3)

Site(s) or Laboratory offering Test/Investigation

NNUH, QEH, JPUH

Units

pmol/L

Comments/Precautions

May be added to thyroid profile. Used to monitor treatment of thyrotoxicosis in first few months post diagnosis. Occasionally for detection of T3 toxicosis (free T4 and TSH suppressed). Please contact the lab if you suspect assay interference

Sample type

Serum

Turnaround times (TAT) Urgent/Routine/GP or OPD

1 hour / 4 hour / by 8am next day

Reference intervals (adult unless stated)

Adult (> 18 yr) range: 2.4 – 6.0 pmol/L

Female paediatric ranges:
4 day – < 1yr 3.56 – 7.48 pmol/L
1 yr – < 12 yr 4.29 – 6.79 pmol/L
12 yr – < 15 yr 3.84 – 6.06 pmol/L
15 yr – < 19 yr 3.55 – 5.7 pmol/L

Male paediatric ranges:
4 day – < 1yr 3.56 – 7.48 pmol/L
1 yr – < 12 yr 4.29 – 6.79 pmol/L
12 yr – < 15 yr 4.44 – 6.65 pmol/L
15 yr – < 19 yr 3.46 – 5.92 pmol/L

If UKAS Accredited Test indicate at which site

Y NNUH, QEH

Source

Adult ranges: Abbott Alinity kit insert [G71299R04] Paediatric ranges: CALIPER (Adeli, K., Higgins, V., Trajcevski, K., White-Al Habeeb, N. (2017). The Canadian laboratory initiative on pediatric reference intervals: A CALIPER white paper. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci, 54(6):358-413. doi: 10.1080/10408363.2017.1379945. Epub 2017 Oct 11. Erratum in: Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2020 Mar;57(2):145. PMID: 29017389.)