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HelpMayo Test ID TBGI Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG), Serum
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before specimen collection, do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Useful For
Cases in which total thyroid hormone levels do not correlate with the thyrometabolic status, most commonly with pregnancy or the use of contraceptive steroids
Method Name
Solid-Phase Chemiluminescent Assay
Reporting Name
Thyroxine Binding Globulin, SSpecimen Type
SerumSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.35 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
| Frozen | 30 days |
Reject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | Reject |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
Clinical Information
Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) is the high-affinity serum binding protein for thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Normally, the thyroid adjusts to changing concentrations of TBG by producing more, or less, thyroid hormone to maintain a constant level of metabolically important free hormone.
Elevated TBG levels are associated with influences such as pregnancy, genetic predisposition, oral contraceptives, and estrogen therapy. TBG levels can decrease with androgenic or anabolic steroids, large doses of glucocorticoids, hypoproteinemic states, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, and congenital TBG variants.
Reference Values
Males: 12-26 mcg/mL
Females: 11-27 mcg/mL
For International System of Units (SI) conversion for Reference Values, see www.mayocliniclabs.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html
Interpretation
A change in thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) concentration may be of hereditary, pathophysiologic, or pharmacologic origin.
The TBG concentration indicates whether an abnormally high or low total thyroid hormone concentration is offset by a parallel increase or decrease in TBG concentration.
In TBG deficiency, one may find euthyroid patients with extremely low total thyroxine (T4) values. Conversely, patients with high TBG levels may be clinically euthyroid with high serum total T4 values.
Twenty-four specimens obtained during various stages of pregnancy yielded results ranging from 27 to 66 mcg/mL with a median of 43 mcg/mL. The literature suggests 47 to 59 mcg/mL as the range of TBG values expected during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Cautions
Females using estrogen-based contraception may exceed the reference range.
Clinical Reference
1. Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2006:2053-2095
2. Wenzel KW: Pharmacological interference with in vitro tests of thyroid function. Metabolism. 1981;30:717-732
3. Mimoto MS, Refetoff S. Clinical recognition and evaluation of patients with inherited serum thyroid hormone-binding protein mutations. J Endocrinol Invest. 2020;43(1):31-41. doi: 10.1007/s40618-019-01084-9
4. Pappa T, Ferrara AM, Refetoff S. Inherited defects of thyroxine-binding proteins. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;29(5):735-747
Method Description
The IMMULITE 2000 TBG (thyroxine-binding globulin) is a solid-phase chemiluminescent immunoassay. The solid phase, a polystyrene bead, is coated with a monoclonal antibody specific for TBG. The patient sample and alkaline phosphate-conjugated TBG are added and incubated. During this time, TBG in the sample competes with the enzyme-labeled TBG for a limited number of antibody binding sites on the bead. Unbound enzyme conjugate is removed by washing and the chemiluminescent substrate is added. The substrate, a phosphate ester of adamantyl dixetane, undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of alkaline phosphatase to yield an unstable intermediate. The continuous production of the intermediate results in the sustained emission of light. The photon output is inversely proportional to the concentration of the TBG in the sample.(Package insert: IMMULITE 2000 TBG PIL2KTB-16. Siemens Medical Solutions; 03/15/2018)
Day(s) Performed
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Report Available
1 to 3 daysSpecimen Retention Time
2 weeksPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
84442
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| TBGI | Thyroxine Binding Globulin, S | 3021-3 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| TBGI | Thyroxine Binding Globulin, S | 3021-3 |