TSH Free Human Serum: What It Is and Its Importance in Clinical Diagnostics
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. TSH levels in the blood are regulated by a negative feedback loop involving thyroid hormones, with low thyroid hormone levels resulting in increased TSH production and high thyroid hormone levels resulting in decreased TSH production.
Traditional TSH Testing vs TSH Free Human Serum
TSH testing is a common diagnostic tool used in the evaluation of thyroid function. Traditional TSH testing measures the amount of TSH in the blood, but more recently, TSH free human serum has become a valuable tool in clinical diagnostics.
TSH free human serum is a purified form of TSH that has had all its binding proteins removed, allowing for more accurate measurement of the biologically active form of TSH. This is important because traditional TSH testing may not accurately reflect the true level of biologically active TSH in the blood, as some of the TSH may be bound to these binding proteins.
Clinical Applications
Some studies have found that measuring TSH free human serum levels in addition to traditional TSH levels improved the accuracy of diagnosing subclinical hypothyroidism, a condition in which thyroid hormone levels are within the normal range but TSH levels are elevated. By measuring TSH free human serum levels, clinicians were able to identify cases of subclinical hypothyroidism that may have been missed with traditional TSH testing alone.
In addition, measuring TSH free human serum levels in patients with pituitary tumors can help distinguish between true pituitary disease and falsely elevated TSH levels due to interference from these tumors. In these cases, measuring TSH free human serum levels can help avoid unnecessary thyroid hormone treatment.
Research Applications
TSH free human serum is also used in research settings to study the regulation and function of TSH in the body. For example, one study used TSH free human serum to investigate the effect of stress on TSH levels in humans.
In conclusion, TSH free human serum is a valuable tool in clinical diagnostics and research. Its ability to measure the biologically active form of TSH can improve the accuracy of diagnosing thyroid disorders and distinguish between true pituitary disease and falsely elevated TSH levels. As research on TSH and thyroid function continues, TSH free human serum will likely continue to play an important role in advancing our understanding of these complex systems.