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Epic Code LAB128 Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG), Serum

Additional Codes

Mayo Code: TBGI

Interface Order Alias: 10482

Epic Code: LAB 128

Cerner Code: 4109

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

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

Specimen Type

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.


Laboratory Test Directory Note:

COLLECTION NOTE: Volumes listed are in serum or plasma, draw approximately 2 1/2 times the requested volume in whole blood.

Specimen 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

Day(s) Performed

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

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

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.

Cautions

Females using estrogen-based contraception may exceed the reference range.

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.

Reporting Name

Thyroxine Binding Globulin, S

Method Name

Solid-Phase Chemiluminescent Assay

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)

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

Report Available

1 to 3 days

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.

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