tsh levels

[debjim]

What is the range of tsh levels?

[gimel]

TSH reference ranges vary slightly from one lab to another.  Most of them use a range that is approximately .5 - 5.0, or thereabouts.  Well over 10 years ago the AACE recognized that the methodology used to establish TSH ranges was flawed and recommended that the range should be reduced to .3 - 3.0.  Unfortunately most doctors and labs still have not adopted the change.  Even more unfortunate is that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is supposed to accurately reflect levels of the actual thyroid hormones, but in actuality cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4 (the biologically active thyroid hormones), much less correlate well with symptoms, which should be the most important consideration.

Assuming that the reason you asked is that you or someone you know was tested for TSH, due to possibility of hypothyroidism, I would like to go a bit further and say that a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically, by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not just TSH.  

[Barb135]

AACE recommends that TSH levels be between 0.3-3.0; however, most labs don't use that range.  They set their own ranges, based on the population for whom they're doing testing.

Do you have a diagnosed (or suspected) thyroid condition?