Test ID: BU-745 | Sample Type: Dried Blood Spot + Dried Urine | Technology: ICP-MS | Results Time: 3-5 Working Days After Laboratory Receives Sample | Laboratory: ZRT Laboratory - CLIA Certified | Hormone Specialist Doctor Interpretation: Included | Suitable For: Adults and Children | Collect Sample At Home: No Clinic Visit Required
What Does This Test Measure?
Blood Spot - Thyroid Panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, TPO Antibodies, Thyroglobulin Antibodies.
Dried Urine - Toxic and Essential Elements: Iodine, Bromine, Selenium, Lithium, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Creatinine.
14 markers total - combining full thyroid function with a root-cause toxic and nutritional element screen.
Related Symptoms
Fatigue, brain fog, unexplained weight gain, hair loss, poor sleep, cold intolerance, or persistent thyroid symptoms despite a normal TSH result. Also relevant for those with regular fish or seafood consumption, mercury dental fillings, smoking history, or concerns about environmental toxic element exposure.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Persistent fatigue, brain fog, or unexplained weight gain
- Hair loss, poor sleep, or cold intolerance
- Thyroid symptoms that persist despite a normal TSH result
- Regular consumption of fish, shellfish, or seafood
- History of mercury dental amalgam fillings
- Smoking history or exposure to industrial or environmental toxins
- Concerns about heavy metal exposure contributing to thyroid dysfunction
- Diagnosed or suspected hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Anyone wanting to understand both the functional status of their thyroid and whether toxic elements may be driving or worsening it
Why This Test Is Particularly Important
- Mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and bromine are all thyroid disruptors - they can block iodine uptake, trigger autoimmune responses including Hashimoto's, and impair T4-to-T3 conversion
- Most people with persistent thyroid symptoms have never had their toxic element levels assessed - this test addresses that gap in a single at-home kit
- Standard NHS thyroid tests measure TSH only - missing Free T3, Free T4, and both antibodies essential for detecting early Hashimoto's and cortisol-driven thyroid suppression
- Bromine competes directly with iodine for uptake into the thyroid - even with adequate iodine intake, elevated bromine from flame retardants or processed foods can suppress thyroid hormone production
- Measuring thyroid function and toxic elements together in a single kit identifies both what is impaired and why - something no standard panel provides
Not Sure Which Test Is Right for You?
Email us at info@hormonelab.co.uk with your gender, age, symptoms, medications, and any current treatments. We will forward your enquiry to our doctors and respond within 24 hours.
How It Works
- Order your kit - delivered directly to your door
- Collect samples at home: finger-prick blood spot + urine strip; no clinic visit required
- Post your samples to ZRT Laboratory using the instructions provided
- Receive your full report by email within 3-5 working days
What You Receive
- All 14 markers in clear graphics and easy-to-read values
- Written interpretation by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Recommended next steps based on your results
- Laboratory fee included - no hidden charges
Why We Use ZRT Laboratory
All testing is performed by ZRT Laboratory - a globally recognised, CLIA-certified diagnostic laboratory founded in 1998 by Dr. David Zava, PhD. ZRT has performed over 11 million tests and is trusted by healthcare professionals in 96+ countries.
- Pioneers of at-home dried blood spot (DBS) and dried urine element testing
- Advanced ICP-MS technology for clinical-grade trace element accuracy
- Each element tested in the most clinically significant sample type
- Personalised reference ranges based on age and sex
Through our partnership with ZRT Laboratory, Hormone Lab UK delivers internationally recognised, research-backed testing to people across the UK and Europe - from the comfort of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are heavy metals linked to thyroid disease?
Mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and bromine can block iodine uptake, interfere with thyroid hormone receptor binding, trigger autoimmune responses including Hashimoto's, and impair T4-to-T3 conversion. Many people with persistent thyroid symptoms have never had their toxic element levels assessed - this test addresses that gap.
What is the difference between this test and a standard thyroid blood test?
Standard NHS thyroid tests typically measure TSH only. This panel measures six thyroid markers plus seven toxic and essential elements via urine - identifying not just whether thyroid function is impaired, but why it may be impaired at a nutritional and environmental level.
Why is bromine included?
Bromine competes directly with iodine for uptake into the thyroid gland. Even with adequate iodine intake, elevated bromine - from flame retardants, certain medications, or processed foods - can suppress thyroid hormone production. This relationship is clinically important but almost never assessed in standard testing.
Is this test suitable for children?
Yes. Sample collection is non-invasive - a small finger-prick for the blood spot and a straightforward urine collection. Please follow the collection instructions carefully when testing a child.
Does the price include the laboratory fee?
Yes. The full laboratory analysis fee is included. There are no additional charges. You are only responsible for posting your sample to the laboratory.
How long is the kit valid for?
The kit must be used within 12 months of the purchase date.
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