SAVE 20% on select tests during our 12 Days of Quest! Terms apply.
Iodine Test
Iodine Test
This test checks for abnormal levels of iodine in your urine. Low levels may indicate an iodine deficiency and are more common than high levels. Consider iodine testing if you are concerned about a potential iodine deficiency or excess in your diet. Read moreTest details
Sample type:
Urine
Preparation:
Please be sure to drink plenty of fluids before your urine sample collection.
Fasting is not required for this test.
How
Urine
About the Test
This iodine test measures the level of iodine in your urine. Iodine is a trace mineral that is essential for making thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine, or T3 and thyroxine, or T4). These hormones drive many bodily functions, such as regulating metabolism, growth, and development, and turning food into energy. Our bodies don't produce iodine so we must get it from food, iodized salt, or supplements. High levels of iodine may indicate excess use of dietary supplements or overconsumption of certain foods, which can result in thyroid dysfunction.
Buy your own iodine lab test online with Quest. No doctor’s visit is required – simply purchase a urine iodine test, visit a nearby Quest location for sample collection, and get fast results.
How it works
questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.
FAQs
Iodine is a trace mineral that is essential for making thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). These hormones drive many bodily functions, such as regulating metabolism, growth, and development, and turning food into energy. The thyroid can't produce the proper level of hormones without enough iodine.
Our bodies don't produce iodine so we must get it from food, iodized salt, or supplements. Iodine is naturally found in animal proteins, fish (cod, tuna, etc.), shellfish (eg, shrimp), dairy products, seaweed (dulse, kelp, nori), eggs, and iodized table salt.
Our bodies don't produce iodine so we must get it from food, iodized salt, or supplements. Iodine is naturally found in animal proteins, fish (cod, tuna, etc.), shellfish (eg, shrimp), dairy products, seaweed (dulse, kelp, nori), eggs, and iodized table salt. If you don’t eat enough iodine-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Overconsumption of iodine-rich foods, excess use of iodine dietary supplements, or taking medications containing iodine may lead to high levels.
The best way to get essential vitamins and minerals is from eating food because they are in their natural form. However, if your body cannot absorb certain nutrients properly, or you are not able to get enough of them through your diet, then you may consider taking a supplement for that nutrient.
While it is unlikely to get too much of a micronutrient if you are taking a supplement, getting too much, known as vitamin toxicity, is possible. It's recommended to confirm a deficiency through testing and talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking supplements.
Iodine is a trace mineral that is technically not a metal, but it exhibits metallic qualities. It is scientifically classified as a halogen, which means “salt-producing.”1
Signs and symptoms of different mineral or heavy metal poisoning can mimic each other, so they are often tested together, such as lead and copper. If you are interested in having these other heavy metals tested, the Lead Test and the Copper Test are available.
No, this test measures the level of iodine in your urine. Other panels on questhealth.com measure the level of iodine in your blood. If you purchase this test along with a panel that includes an iodine blood test, you can expect your results to be different.
You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.
Our references
- Facts About Iodine. Accessed September 9,2024. https://www.livescience.com/37441-iodine.html
- Southern AP, Anastasopoulou C, Jwayyed S. Iodine Toxicity. [Updated 2024 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560770/
- Healthline. What You Should Know About Iodine Deficiency. Accessed September 9, 2024. Iodine Deficiency: Symptoms, Related Conditions, and Treatment (healthline.com)