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How To Get Your Thyroid Tested Without a Doctor
Patients May Need New Service to Order Their Own Bloodwork

by Mary Shomon

Research reported last year in the Archives of Internal Medicine* estimated that as many as 13 million Americans are suffering from undiagnosed thyroid conditions.

Sometimes, it is difficult to get a thyroid test to determine if you are one of the millions of undiagnosed people, because:

you do not have medical insurance, and can't afford to pay for a required initial visit with a physician for a physical, plus the costs of a blood test;
you are in an HMO, and your doctor is discouraging you from having thyroid tests, as a cost-cutting measure; or
your doctor is resistant -- for whatever reason -- to the idea that you have a thyroid problem, and won't agree to your thyroid being tested.

Even among those who are diagnosed and have been prescribed thyroid hormone replacement, there are many patients who do not feel well, and who need retesting and readjustment of their thyroid medicine dosage. Your insurance or HMO may only cover testing one time a year, but annual testing may not be enough when your levels are fluctuating, or when you have received a batch of sub-potent thyroid medicine, or when there are other reasons that contribute to improper thyroid blood levels.

Interestingly, a study* found that among patients taking thyroid medication, only 60% were within the normal range of TSH. That means that 40% of patients, a number that translates to millions of Americans, are taking thyroid hormone and being treated by a doctor, but are still not in the TSH range -- and probably do not feel well as a result.

For millions of people who are struggling to get diagnosed, or who are not yet at the proper dosage in order to feel well, it is good news to know that thyroid tests can now be ordered without a doctor's prescription or pre-approval.

Biosafe Home TSH Tests

BIOSAFE offers the first FDA-approved home thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. All you need to do is order your home test kit, and in the privacy of your own home, without your doctor's prescription required, and without a visit to the doctor, you can take the test, and get a accurate TSH test results.

With many doctors and labs charging anywhere from $40 or $50, to some patients reporting that their doctors mark up TSH tests to as much as $125 -- PLUS doctor's visit fees -- the Biosafe home test, at $39.95, offers a cost-effective way to get an important TSH test as a first-line in evaluating your thyroid function. And you don't even need to have a blood draw in the arm, the fear of which actually prevents many people from getting much-needed diagnostic or monitoring tests.

Biosafe's test kit makes doing your own test easy, and it's almost painless. Using the special finger lancet, all you need is a couple of drops of blood from your finger, which you put into their special collection device, which you then send to Biosafe's labs for analysis. Results are mailed back to you quickly.

FDA-approved TSH tests, as accurate as lab testing with your physician

No prescription is required for testing

Tests are almost painless, and can be done at home -- no doctor's visit required

Only $39.95, far less costly than a doctor's visit and lab work

ORDER ONLINE
If you want to order a Biosafe home TSH test kit online for $39.95, click here now

ORDER BY PHONE, TOLL-FREE
You can order a Biosafe home TSH test kit for the same $39.95 price by calling their toll-free order line:

1-800-768-8446, extension 123

Note: Kits may not be available in some areas outside the U.S.

Healthcheck USA

Another service, known as "Healthcheck USA," allows you to order the same medically accepted thyroid lab tests ordered by physicians, and analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory -- but you do not need a physician's prescription, HMO approval, or even a regular doctor -- in order to have these tests run.

Healthcheck USA has three key thyroid test options, including:

Comprehensive Thyroid Profile: T3 Uptake, T4 Total, T7, and TSH -- $40
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test: $27.00
Comprehensive Thyroid Profile II: T3 (Triiodothyronine) Free, T4 (Thyroxine) Free, and TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone -- $65.00

These rates -- which are samples for the Rockville, Maryland lab location, and vary somewhat by location -- are substantially less than those charged at many laboratories around the U.S., in particular, when you consider the costs of tests, plus the markups that many doctors' offices add.

At the Healthcheck USA website, after you identify the tests you want to order, you fill our registration information, and then pay by online check or credit card. After you've filled out your order, a representative from Healthcheck USA will call you to review your order and procedures. Paperwork will be sent to you, which you will need in order to have your bloodwork conducted at the lab.

Once you receive the paperwork, you can go to the laboratory at your convenience, and no appointment is necessary.

Test results are sent out the next business day after your test, with an explanation of results. Healthcheck USA urges that any abnormal results on any of their blood tests be evaluated by your own physician.

In addition to thyroid tests, a variety of other popular blood tests are also available through Healthcheck USA.

For more information, visit the HealtcheckUSA website, or contact the company by calling 800-929-2044

Other contact information:

Customer Service: 800-925-7901
Address:
8700 Crownhill #506
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Phone: (210) 929-2044
Fax: (210) 820-0750

*Reference: Archives of Internal Medicine, February 28, 2000

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All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a new treatment program. Please see our full disclaimer.