Test Directory

Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.

Thyrotropin-receptor antibody is an autoantibody to the thyroid cell receptor for thyroid-stimulating hormone. It can be demonstrated in 90% of patients with Graves' disease, and is the cause of the hyperthyroidism of that condition. The characterization of TRA resolved much confusion about long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) and LATS protector, which are both, in fact, thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies which simply behaved differently in animal test systems. These antibodies are present in 50% of euthyroid Graves' disease as well as hyperthyroid patients. They play a major role in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease. Detection of these antibodies is useful in prediction of neonatal hyperthyroidism and prediction of relapse of hyperthyroidism.

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Collection Container: Gold Top, Serum Separator

Alternate Collection Container: Red Top, Plain

Desired Specimen Volume: 1 mL

1. Collect specimen in gold top, serum separator tube or red top, plain tube via venipuncture.

1. Separate serum from cells.
2. Transfer 1 mL of serum to a LabCorp PP transpak frozen purple tube.

This test may exhibit interference when sample is collected from a person who is consuming a supplement with a high dose of biotin (also termed as vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R). It is recommended to ask all patients who may be indicated for this test about biotin supplementation. Patients should be cautioned to stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection of a sample.

Transport to the laboratory frozen. 

• Citrate plasma specimen
• Samples collected in heparin or from patients on heparin therapy
• Lipemic or hemolyzed serum samples
• Improper labeling

See patient report.

• Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody, Serum
• LATS
• Long-Acting Thyroid Stimulator
• TBII; Thyrotropin-Binding Inhibitory Immunoglobulin
• TRAb; TSH Receptor Ab
• TSH Receptor Binding Inhibitory Immunoglobulin