Optical Q - Immunoassay for Quantitative Determination of TSH

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine and triiodothyronine which stimulates metabolism of almost every tissue in the body. Thyroid stimulating hormone is secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, and induces the production and release of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) from the thyroid gland. TSH is essential in the maintenance of normal thyroid function. The release of TSH is regulated by a TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) produced by the hypothalamus. The levels of TSH and TRH are inversely related to the level of thyroid hormone. When there is a high level of thyroid hormone in the blood, less TSH is secreted by the pituitary. The opposite action will occur when there are decreased levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. This process, known as a negative feedback mechanism, is responsible for maintaining the proper blood levels of these hormones.