TSH Test (Pregnancy)
A TSH test in the context of pregnancy measures thyroid-stimulating hormone, the pituitary signal to the thyroid, during pregnancy. Thyroid function is commonly monitored during pregnancy, and people are encouraged to follow their prenatal clinician's guidance.
About this test
Thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH, is made by the pituitary gland and signals the thyroid how much hormone to release. During pregnancy, the body's demands on the thyroid change, and clinicians commonly keep an eye on thyroid activity as part of prenatal care.
The test is performed with a routine blood draw at a patient service center, where a phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory. Because thyroid care during pregnancy is closely tied to individual circumstances, decisions about when and how thyroid markers are checked are guided by a person's prenatal clinician.
Test details
| Quest code | 90896 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Immunoassay |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Patient preparation | Wait at least 3 days after fluorescein dye angiography before your blood draw. If you are on hemodialysis, wait 2 weeks after angiography before your blood draw. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Quest resources
Additional details
Why thyroid activity is followed during pregnancy
Pregnancy changes the demands placed on the thyroid, and the body's hormone needs shift as it progresses. For that reason, thyroid activity is commonly kept in view as part of prenatal care. Measuring TSH in this context reflects the same pituitary signal it always does, but read against the particular backdrop of pregnancy.
Every pregnancy is different, so how closely thyroid markers are watched — and when — is something a prenatal clinician tailors to the individual.
Following your prenatal clinician's lead
Thyroid care during pregnancy is closely tied to a person's specific circumstances, which is why the prenatal clinician stays at the center of these decisions. Choices about when TSH is checked, whether it is paired with other markers, and what the results mean for a given pregnancy all belong within that care relationship. This page offers general background; it is not a substitute for the guidance a prenatal team provides.
What to expect and how results are read
The sample is collected with a routine blood draw at a patient service center — a phlebotomist takes a small amount from a vein in the arm, and the visit is brief. Results are posted to the account once the laboratory reports them. They are always interpreted by the prenatal clinician in context, never read on their own. Because thyroid needs shift as a pregnancy progresses, that ongoing, individualized guidance is what gives a result its meaning at any given point, and the report is best treated as one input into prenatal care rather than a standalone answer on its own.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does this test measure?
It measures thyroid-stimulating hormone, the signal the pituitary gland sends to the thyroid, considered in the context of pregnancy when thyroid activity is commonly monitored.
Why is thyroid function watched during pregnancy?
The body's demands on the thyroid change during pregnancy, so clinicians commonly keep an eye on thyroid activity as part of prenatal care. Individual guidance comes from a person's prenatal clinician.
Should I coordinate this with my prenatal clinician?
Yes. Thyroid care during pregnancy is closely tied to individual circumstances, so people are encouraged to follow their prenatal clinician's guidance on when and how markers are checked.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Is TSH ever measured with other markers during pregnancy?
It can be. A clinician may pair TSH with other thyroid markers depending on the situation, and the results are interpreted together within prenatal care.
How much is a TSH Pregnancy test?
$25, paid once at checkout. The price includes the physician's order this test requires and sample collection at a Quest patient service center.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Wait at least 3 days after fluorescein dye angiography before your blood draw. If you are on hemodialysis, wait 2 weeks after angiography before your blood draw. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.