Preferred Sample Type
Suitable Specimen Types
- Serum
- EDTA Plasma
- Li Hep Plasma
Sample Processing in Laboratory
Usual
Sample Preparation
Usual
Turnaround Time
up to 3 daysSample Stability
Store at 4˚C for up to 3 days.
Thyroid Antibodies (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody)
General Information
Anti-thyroid peroxidise (TPO) antibodies are autoantibodies directed against the thyroid peroxidise enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the iodination of tyrosine in thyroglobulin during the biosynthesis of T3 and T4. The two most common forms of autoimmune thyroid disease are Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Grave's disease. High anti-TPO antibodies are present in up to 90% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. They are also present in more than 70% of patients with Grave's disease. A negative finding does not rule out the possibility of an autimmune disease and the magnitude of the antibody titre does not correlate with the clinical activity of the disease.
Note that TPO antibodies may also be detected, to variable degrees, in patients with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, and also to a lesser extent in the normal population. This test is only of real value in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease, as levels of TPO antibodies do not correlate well with thyroid functional status.
Patient Preparation
None
Notes
None Given
Reference Range
< 5.61U/mL - Negative
> 5.62 <30 IU/mL - Equivocal
>30 IU/mL - Positive
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
-
EQA Status:
UKNEQAS eqa scheme for general autoimmune serology.
Link to Further Information
http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/thyroid-antibodies/tab/faqCopyright heftpathology 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
HTA licence number is 12366
Protection of Personal Information – Laboratory Medicine comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.
The Trust Laboratories at Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital were awarded UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation to the internationally recognised ISO 15189 standard in May 2015. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the test database https://heftpathology.site/frontpage/test-database.html.
Tests not appearing on this scope are either under consideration or in the process of accreditation and so currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.
For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 424 1235
