$49.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Brain & nervous system
Iodine test
Serum iodine; can reflect very recent intake and supplementation.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Your thyroid, the gland in your neck that helps set your energy and metabolism, needs iodine to make its hormones. A blood level can mostly reflect how much iodine you’ve had recently.
Why it matters for women
You need more iodine during pregnancy and breastfeeding, because your baby’s brain growth depends on thyroid hormone. Both too little and too much iodine can upset the thyroid, and thyroid problems are much more common in women.
You might check it if…
- you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
- you rarely eat iodized salt, dairy, eggs or seafood
- you eat a lot of seaweed or kelp
- a doctor is looking into a thyroid problem or neck swelling
What your result may mean
High Iodine: what it may mean
High iodine may mean recent intake from supplements, seaweed or kelp, iodine-containing contrast dye used for CT scans, or the heart medicine amiodarone. Iodine antiseptics can add to it as well. Because a blood level can mostly track very recent intake, one high result may not match your usual diet. Too much iodine can upset the thyroid and can cause an underactive or overactive thyroid, and this can matter during pregnancy. Contrast dye can keep the level up for weeks, so a clinician may ask about recent imaging and check TSH.
Low Iodine: what it may mean
Low iodine may mean your recent intake has been low, and over time too little iodine can reduce how much thyroid hormone your body makes. That can cause goiter, a swollen thyroid, or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Needs can rise during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and too little can cause developmental delays in a baby. It can happen with diets low in iodized salt, dairy, eggs and seafood, and some prenatal vitamins may not contain iodine. A blood level can change with recent intake, so TSH or a urine iodine test can give a steadier view.
Get started
Stop guessing. Start testing.
Answer a few questions. We’ll suggest tests linked to how you feel, with a clear price for every test.
No insurance required · HSA/FSA eligible · No subscription
These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.