TSH test

The hormone your pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, uses to tell your thyroid to work harder or less.

€12.01. You pay at the desk, not online.

TSH test: what it is for

TSH is the hormone your pituitary gland, at the base of your brain, uses to tell your thyroid to work harder or less. It works like a seesaw: when your thyroid works too little, TSH rises; when it works too hard, TSH falls. It is the first test for checking your thyroid.

Why it is done

Your thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. Its hormones set how fast your body works: heartbeat, temperature, energy, weight.

Thyroid problems are common, especially in women, and they often come on slowly. A blood test can find them early.

How the TSH test is done

It is a blood test, done at a Bianalisi lab without a prescription. You can add other tests to the same draw.

Questions about the TSH test.

Can biotin skew TSH? Yes. High-dose biotin, the kind in hair, skin and nail supplements, can make it read lower than it is. If you take it, ask your doctor whether to stop it at least two days before the blood test, and tell the lab.

How much does the TSH test cost? €12.01, from Bianalisi’s private list for Lombardy. You pay at the desk on the day of the draw, not online.

Do I need a prescription for the TSH test? No. You book it here without a prescription and pay at the Bianalisi desk.

When do results arrive? Within 10 working days, in the Rosa app, with each value next to the lab’s interval. The report a doctor approves is in the Rosa membership.