Well, this was interesting for me. I tried to find your answer. I sort of understand but it is very hard for me to put it in simple wording. Which is to me a sign that I do not totally comprehend it. I learned a lot on the way though. I have the feeling that they are more or less the same or at least point to the same outcome. In my last link (the 4th) Elaine Moore says that too.

I will give you two medically sound links from the MayoClinic. I know you can handle these as an RN but I also know that your thyroid brain maybe not allowing you. So see what you can do with them. These are more descriptive, though. Not explaining what the difference is. I just thought they were very informative.

The 3rd link is to Elaine Moore's Q/A thingy.

This last link is a very short explanation which is nice but I still do not fully understand, which bugs the crut out of me so I will keep my self busy the next coming days.

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8634

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/81797

http://www.elaine-moore.com/QA/tabid/57/forumid/6/postid/4831/scope/posts/Default.aspx#4831

http://www.elaine-moore.com/Articles/GravesDisease/ThyroidFunctionTests/tabid/67/Default.aspx

I realize it is maybe a vague answer. So maybe someone else wants to jump in? Or maybe you are way smarter than me and figure it out on your own.

I got to sleep, got to work tomorrow. Always fun but I kind of need my brain there.

Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

I kind of got the same thing from my reading, I think the TSI is included in the TRab. But what I don't understand now is if the TRab is so indicitive of Grave's, why does anyone have to do the radioactive uptake scan? It seems to me that a blood test is simpler, and cheaper than the scan..also they use the TRab in the scan in uninformative. Why not just use the TRab? I don't get it.

Maglady:

One doesn't need to do an Uptake scan when the TSI and the TRAb tests are effective. The Uptake does not determine if one has Graves' Disease.

Unfortunately many of the Endos are behind with the treatments and testings for thyroid disease. 80% of them treat diabetes so they're usually clueless when it comes to thyroid care.

{{{hugs}}}

I see, so is a TRab of 35.92 extremely high if the reference range was less than 1.72? Or could it be even higher like in the 120's?

The TRAb and TSI can be of any numbers.

{{{hugs}}}

I'm not sure but I thought the TRab included the "blocking" type antibodies and the "stimulating" type which is what Graves consists of. If you have more stimulating, you'll have Graves but you can have blocking ones and stay euthyroid and still have low tsh. The antibody thing is confusing. You can also go hypo because of blocking antibodies.

p.s. Maybe Pam and MM remember...there was a member on the first board I was on named "boatkitten", she knew a LOT about this.