What is an Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test?

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test used for?

Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test helps diagnose thyroid problems.  

Thyroid disorders like autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism can be diagnosed.

Thyroglobulin antibodies attack the thyroglobulin proteins found in the thyroid gland. These antibodies can destroy the thyroid gland. 

The Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test can measure the amounts of these antibodies, and treatment plans can begin for the patient to manage them.

Understanding the test results of the Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test

Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test results come as positive or negative. A positive Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test means that you have antithyroglobulin antibodies in your blood. 

A negative Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test means that you do not have any antithyroglobulin antibodies in your blood. 

The test result depends on your age, sex, history of illness, health status, the method used to check the antibodies, and other parameters.

Why do I need an Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test?

 You may require an Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test if you have any of these symptoms - 

1. Weakness
2. Constipation
3. Dryness of skin
4. Unexplained weight gain

A regular checkup of thyroid hormones like T3 and T4 gets advised in any health checkup plan. When these hormones rise, one should look at the Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test result.

What happens during an Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test?

The doctor may advise you to fast for a long time before the test. 

A healthcare professional usually draws blood from your vein for the Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test. Possible sites for venipuncture include - above your elbow or back of the hand. It is a usual blood collection procedure. Results may be negative or positive based on the presence of Antithyroglobulin Antibody.

What is the normal range for Antithyroglobulin antibodies?

Antithyroglobulin antibodies is a test used to measure antibodies to a protein called thyroglobulin.

Antithyroglobulin antibody testing helps to evaluate thyroid problems. Usually, Antithyroglobulin is not normally found in the bloodstream. Nearly 10-20% of healthy individuals worldwide have detectable antithyroglobulin levels. The reference range value for antithyroglobulin is less than 116 IU/mL.

What does the antithyroglobulin antibody test during pregnancy mean?

You find Antithyroglobulin antibodies in pregnant women if some relatives possess the presence of antithyroglobulin antibodies. If the relatives also tested positive for autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland, then the test could come positive. Antithyroglobulin antibody is high during the early trimester- then it falls during the mid-trimester and increases again in the postpartum months.

What are antithyroglobulin antibody symptoms?

 Symptoms include - 

1. Loss of weight/ weight gain
2. Tremors in the hand
3. Anxious feeling
4. Raised heart rate
5. Bulging of the eyes
6. Low tolerance for heat
7. Trouble falling asleep
8. Tiredness or fatigue
9. Muscular weakness
10. Swollen thyroid
11. Constipation
12. Depression 
13. Joint pains
14. Irregular menstrual periods
15. Loss of hair
16. Low tolerance for cold

If you have antithyroglobulin antibodies, it means you either have Hashimoto’s disease or Grave’s disease.

How to Prepare for the Test?

In an Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test, a sample of your blood gets drawn. The healthcare professional or a doctor may advise you to fast for several hours before the test. 

The doctor may also ask you to stop taking medications like multivitamins or blood thinners before the test. These medications interfere with the test results.

What do Abnormal Results mean?

Abnormal results usually mean that you have a thyroid disorder. It could be any of these if the levels are high -

1. Hyperthyroidism
2. Hypothyroidism
3. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
4. Autoimmune thyroiditis
5. Grave’s disease

If the levels rise slightly, it could mean- you may have any of these - 

1. Type 1 diabetes mellitus
2. Rheumatoid arthritis
3. Thyroid cancer
4. Pernicious anaemia
5. Scleroderma

Are there any risks associated with the test?

Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test involves drawing blood from veins. The risks involved in drawing blood are slight. There’s more risk involved in drawing blood from the arteries as they are deeply situated. 

 Risks include:

1. Excessive bleeding from the site
2. Feeling lightheadedness or fainting feeling
3. Infection from the puncture site
4. Multiple punctures in search of veins
5. Hematoma - blood collection under the skin

Consult our medical experts at Yashoda Hospitals to know more about the Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test- side effects, test results, and test preparations.