Mediki
TSH blood test: what your result means
TSH measures pituitary signaling that controls thyroid hormone production. It is a first-line marker of thyroid regulation.
- Category
- Thyroid
- Standard unit
- mIU/L
- Reported in
- mIU/L, mU/L, µIU/mL
What does high TSH mean?
Higher values may suggest increased pituitary drive with relative low thyroid hormone effect. What counts as high depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
What does low TSH mean?
Lower values may suggest reduced pituitary drive or relative thyroid overactivity patterns. What counts as low depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
TSH units and conversion
Mediki shows TSH in mIU/L. Labs may report it in other units; Mediki converts them automatically so results from different labs line up on one chart.
mU/L, µIU/mL are numerically the same as mIU/L, so no conversion is needed.
Why track TSH over time?
A single TSH result is a snapshot. Comparing it with your earlier tests shows whether a value is stable, slowly drifting, or responding to a change in treatment or lifestyle, which is often more useful than one number on its own.
Read our guide on how to read blood test results to understand reference ranges, flags and units.
Following TSH as part of a panel? See the thyroid test tracker.
Track your TSH results in one chart
Upload your lab reports and Mediki plots every TSH result against its reference range. Your first 15 pages are free.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and only a doctor can interpret your results in the context of your health.