However, all RAIU tests will need a thyroid scan to determine how the thyroid is functioning.

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Risks and Contraindications

The risks with the RAIU test are minimal.

Youll likely be told not to eat after midnight the night before the test.

Scintigraphy of thyroid gland with two nodule

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Dont stop anymedicationwithout consulting your healthcare provider first.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe you a pill that contains radioactive iodine.

The scan will measure the amount of iodine that has been taken up by the thyroid.

In other instances, a single scan is taken between 6 and 24 hours after the injection.

Or, an initial scan is taken after 6 hours and repeated in 24 hours.

This should take about a day or two.

Sometimes you may need to go on a low-iodine diet prior to the test.

Youll also want to verify not to have had recent imaging with iodine contrast.

Depending on your healthcare provider, they may be able to come in with you during the test.

UCLA Endocrine Center.Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test.

Meier DA, Kaplan MM.Radioiodine Uptake And Thyroid Scintiscanning.

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America.

U.S. National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.

University of California San Francisco Health.