An uptake test usually involves the ingestion of radioactive iodine.....since the thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormone, it will absorb the radioactive iodine and techs will be able to measure the rate at which it is absorbed.

Not sure why your doctor is having you get this test done - do you have nodules?

The RAI test can determine whether a nodule is "hot" (shooting off excess hormones) or "cold" (possible cancer - which is extremely rare).

The other use for the RAI test is to give the nuclear medicine peeps a vague idea of how much RAI to use if the patient chooses to have their thyroid ablated.

Not sure how the term "injection" fits in there - most people have to swallow a capsule of RAI or drink the radioactive liquid.

Thanks cd3764. That does help me understand it. I do have several nodules in my thyroid. I have to go for two days. The first day they say I am having the Thyroid Imaging with Uptake done and the second day is the 24hour Uptake and Injection, then a Thyroid scan after the uptake. It is kind of scary when you don't know what it is all about. Thank you for your response.

Here's some info about it:

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=thyroiduptake

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003689.htm

This link mentions meds like synthroid messing up results - and it says meds would have to be stopped 4-5 wks before the test - yikes!!

http://www.endocrineweb.com/tests.html

Are you sure you need this test?

I agree with Barbell.....

People with Graves' Disease are often pushed to have the uptake test under the guise of confirming Graves' when, in actuality, a simple blood test for Graves' antibodies would confirm it.

Again, not sure why your doc wants you to have one.

I have read in numerous reliable places that other tests can provide better information than the uptake test and the only true reason the test is done nowadays is to give the nuclear medicine peeps a vague idea of how much radioactive iodine to use if the patient chooses to ablate their thyroid.

Barbell's last paragraph is right-on as well.

Here's a link to show you that a fine-needle aspiration is the best possible test to evaluate nodules

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_thyroid_cancer_diagnosed_43.asp

You know, I always trusted my doctors.....until I developed thyroid disease.

It seems that many doctors have not kept up with the advances in medicine and we, the patients, are often given unneccessary, risky tests when better/more accurate tests are available.

I remember when my hyperthyroidism was discovered during my annual physical.....my PCP's associate was the one who did the exam and gave me the news.

She told me she wanted me to get a thyroid ultrasound and, if that proved "inconclusive", she'd want me to get a scan - she said I'd have to "swallow a little capsule and then they would look at the thyroid".

Well, I knew scans often involved radiation so I hit the internet....and discovered that a scan is pretty outdated and better diagnostic tests are available.....I refused the scan.

Now, my ultrasound did not detect any nodules. If it did, I would have researched further.

It is only since June 2007 that I've become an avid researcher of all things thyroid and glean my information from medical & thyroid textbooks, HON-certified websites, etc.

I strongly suggest you fully research this stuff before moving forward....unless, of course, you don't mind ingesting radiation and letting it course throughout your body.

Thank you cd3764 and Barbell. I appreciate the advise. Don't worry, I would not let them ever talk me into having it removed. Well, unless there was cancer. I am not too worried about cancer tho, the nodules have not grown in the last few months. I guess it is a possibility, but I am not going to start worrying about it before if ever it is necessary.

Barbell, how is it determined if it is Hashi's or another form of hypo?

Use the thyroid antibodies test called TgAb to determine if one has Hashi's.

{{{hugs}}} :-)

Ok well I had the antibodies test and it was postitive. So I have hashis then? My doctor never actually gave me a name for it.