Thyroglobulin

Referred to Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services, Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey GU16 7UJ
 

Alternative names, keywords

Tg, thyroglobulin antibody, TgAb

Samples required

Clotted blood (gold cap, 5 mL tube). Smaller tubes are available for paediatric samples.

Unless patient is already being monitored by this laboratory, please provide clinical details to ensure appropriate test is done.

Test indications

Follow up test for thyroid cancer - please make request clear on form to distinguish from more frequent requests. Also indicated for investigation of thyroid dysgenesis in infants.

Thyroglobulin antibodies are done with this test to detect potential interference that may invalidate the result.

For thyroid autoantibodies please request thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody or thyroid receptor antibody, depending on clinical picture.

Reference range

Thyroglobulin: <1.0 µg/L post thyroid ablation.
In treated thyroid cancer patients serum thyroglobulin > 1 ug/L may be indicative of recurrent/residual thyroid cancer or thyroid remnant.

Thyroglobulin antibody: <4.1 kU/L
Antibody positive samples are referred for thyroglobulin by an alternative method for comparison.

Note change to methods at referral laboratory from 30 Jan 2023 and new anti-thyroglobulin antibody reference range. There is no change to the post ablation thyroglobulin range, however note that the referral lab quotes a negative bias of up to 25% at higher levels. Due to the nature of tumour marker measurement, unpredictable biases may be seen for individual patients.

 

 

Turnaround time

Referral lab quotes turnaround time of 7 days, however additional time must be allowed for packing, dispatch and delivery of sample, and return and processing of results.

Enquiries

Biochemistry (Referrals)

 

Details