Radioactive iodine uptake test

The radioactive iodine uptake test, or RAIU test, is a type of scan used in the diagnosis of thyroid problems, particularly hyperthyroidism. It is entirely different from radioactive iodine therapy (RAI therapy), which uses much higher doses to destroy cancerous cells. The RAIU test is also used as a follow up to RAI therapy to verify that no thyroid cells survived, which could still be cancerous.

The patient swallows a radioisotope of iodine in the form of capsule or fluid, and the absorption (uptake) of this radiotracer by the thyroid is studied after 4–6 hours and after 24 hours with the aid of a scintillation counter. The dose is typically 0.15–0.37 MBq (4–10 μCi) of ¹³¹I sodium iodide, or 3.7–7.4 MBq (100–200 μCi) of ¹²³I sodium iodide.

The normal uptake is between 15 and 25 percent, but this may be forced down if, in the meantime, the patient has eaten foods high in iodine, such as dairy products and seafood. Low uptake suggests thyroiditis, high uptake suggests Graves' disease, and unevenness in uptake suggests the presence of a nodule.

¹²³I has a shorter half-life than ¹³¹I (a half day vs. 8.1 days), so use of ¹²³I exposes the body to less radiation, at the expense of less time to evaluate delayed scan images. Furthermore, ¹²³I emits gamma radiation, while ¹³¹I emits gamma and beta radiation.