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Woman gets mom's thyroid tested at 3 labs with different results
Woman gets mom's thyroid levels tested at 3 labs, gets different results: Doctor explains why it happened, how to avoid
Woman gets mom's thyroid levels tested at 3 labs, gets different results: Doctor explains why it happened, how to avoid
An influencer got her mom's thyroid testes from three labs, getting varying results. Experts highlight factors like biotin and calibration differences.
Published on: Apr 27, 2026 4:10 PM IST By Krishna Pallavi Priya Share via Copy link Regular testing is a part of lifestyle habits one should adopt to keep a check on their health. A basic blood panel gives you a general idea about your health, including blood sugar levels, fasting sugar, your thyroid, and even kidney health. But what if the same test from different labs gives you different results on the same day? India has 2.5 lakh diagnostic labs. But only 2,200, roughly, are certified by NABL. (Pexel) Also Read | Managing PCOS while working a 9-to-5 job? Nutritionist shares 3 tips for women to balance hormones and blood sugar On April 26, influencer Ayesha Raje Goyal shared a video on Instagram about running an experiment with her mom: they visited three different blood-testing labs in Mumbai and had her mom's thyroid levels tested to see if there would be a difference. Though Ayesha thought that the levels would be similar, they were not even close.3 labs, 3 different results
According to Ayesha, she took her mom to 3 labs within two hours to test her thyroid levels. The reports varied drastically: “Her TSH ranges from 0.79 to 1.06. I would say that's still decent. Free T3, this was the one I was happiest about; there's barely any gap. Free T4 shows a 41% gap on the same blood, so not the best. Then, anti-TPO was the surprising one because it went from 148.7 to almost double the limit. That's a huge variation. This was expected because she has Hashimoto, but this wide range was quite surprising.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayesha Raje Goyal (@ayeshargoyal) Ayesha sent her mother's reports to two doctors to understand why the results varied between the three labs. They told her that it is important to always check that the lab you're going to is NABL-certified. “The surprising statistic I came across was that India has 2.5 lakh diagnostic labs. But only 2,200, roughly, are certified by NABL,” she added. She further highlighted a website (nabl-India.org) where one can enter their city and verify whether the lab is certified. Furthermore, she added that a little bit of error is expected because different labs have different machines and recalibration methods, and moreover, our thyroid levels fluctuate throughout the day, and that's normal.What do experts say?
To understand this phenomenon, HT Lifestyle spoke with Dr Shehla Shaikh, a consultant endocrinologist at Saifee Hospital. According to Dr Shehla, results can vary if the patient is on biotin supplements. She noted that biotin can interfere with TSH testing, leading to falsely low results depending on the platform's methodology. “For example, there are different automated immunoassay platforms. While they are all automated at this point, they use distinct antibodies to measure TSH. Because different antibodies are used, results can vary between manufacturers,” she explained. So, differences may arise due to the use of different platforms. However, sometimes, variations can also occur due to calibration differences. “It is important to check how the calibration was performed in the lab and whether it was done correctly. Additionally, there may be issues related to antibody specificity,” she noted. She also highlighted that there are minor differences in assays, typically around 7 to 15 percent across the total range, which generally show good correlation. However, at lower concentrations, variation can be higher. In some cases, differences of up to 14 percent may occur in certain samples, and this needs to be considered. Lastly, Dr Shehla noted that interfering substances can also play a role. “It is important to know the time gap between tests and whether the patient was on any medications. Drugs such as steroids, dopamine agonists, or amiodarone can also contribute to these variations. All of these factors can influence the differences observed in results,” she elaborated. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Krishna Pallavi Priya Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More Doctor Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs. News/Lifestyle/Health/Woman Gets Mom's Thyroid Levels Tested At 3 Labs, Gets Different Results: Doctor Explains Why It Happened, How To Avoid See Less
Regular testing is a part of lifestyle habits one should adopt to keep a check on their health. A basic blood panel gives you a general idea about your health, including blood sugar levels, fasting sugar, your thyroid, and even kidney health. But what if the same test from different labs gives you different results on the same day?
Also Read | Managing PCOS while working a 9-to-5 job? Nutritionist shares 3 tips for women to balance hormones and blood sugar
On April 26, influencer Ayesha Raje Goyal shared a video on Instagram about running an experiment with her mom: they visited three different blood-testing labs in Mumbai and had her mom's thyroid levels tested to see if there would be a difference. Though Ayesha thought that the levels would be similar, they were not even close.
Ayesha sent her mother's reports to two doctors to understand why the results varied between the three labs. They told her that it is important to always check that the lab you're going to is NABL-certified. “The surprising statistic I came across was that India has 2.5 lakh diagnostic labs. But only 2,200, roughly, are certified by NABL,” she added.
She further highlighted a website (nabl-India.org) where one can enter their city and verify whether the lab is certified. Furthermore, she added that a little bit of error is expected because different labs have different machines and recalibration methods, and moreover, our thyroid levels fluctuate throughout the day, and that's normal.
“For example, there are different automated immunoassay platforms. While they are all automated at this point, they use distinct antibodies to measure TSH. Because different antibodies are used, results can vary between manufacturers,” she explained. So, differences may arise due to the use of different platforms.
However, sometimes, variations can also occur due to calibration differences. “It is important to check how the calibration was performed in the lab and whether it was done correctly. Additionally, there may be issues related to antibody specificity,” she noted.
She also highlighted that there are minor differences in assays, typically around 7 to 15 percent across the total range, which generally show good correlation. However, at lower concentrations, variation can be higher. In some cases, differences of up to 14 percent may occur in certain samples, and this needs to be considered.
Lastly, Dr Shehla noted that interfering substances can also play a role. “It is important to know the time gap between tests and whether the patient was on any medications. Drugs such as steroids, dopamine agonists, or amiodarone can also contribute to these variations. All of these factors can influence the differences observed in results,” she elaborated.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: NABL-certified,diagnostic labs,thyroid levels,TSH testing,biotin supplements
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