The TRAb test is often used for the differential diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and as part of treatment management. Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone, making the body use energy faster than it should.
More specifically, the TRAb test is often carried out for the following purposes:
- Differential diagnosis of the causes of thyrotoxicosis in patients with clinical findings that are ambiguous and/or contraindicated or those who have nondiagnostic thyroid radioisotope scans.
- Diagnosing clinically-suspected Graves’ disease in patients who have normal thyroid function test results.
- Ascertaining the risk of neonatal thyrotoxicosis in the fetus of a pregnant woman with Graves’ disease or a medical history of it.
- Differential diagnosis of gestational thyrotoxicosis in contrast with first trimester manifestation or recurrence of Graves’ disease.
- Evaluating the risk of Graves’ disease relapse after drug treatment.