How is iodine deficiency diagnosed?
If you have an enlarged thyroid gland, your healthcare provider may be able to visually diagnose thyroid deficiency. You may be asked to do some imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. For example, you may be asked to do a thyroid ultrasound or a scan to measure the size of the gland and to check if it has any irregular shape or any other abnormalities.
You may also be required to carry out a test known as a thyroid blood test or thyroid function test. Abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones or an extremely high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) [4], secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, can indicate iodine deficiency.
Newborn babies are checked for hypothyroidism through a blood test.
Other tests for checking iodine levels include;
- Urine test
- Iodine patch test
- Blood test
- Iodine loading test