Tests and diagnosisBy Mayo Clinic staff A diagnosis of Graves'
disease is based primarily on your answers to the doctor's
questions and findings from a physical exam. He or she may also
order laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis or gather more
evidence if a diagnosis isn't clear. Diagnostic procedures may
include: - Physical exam. Your doctor examines your eyes to see
if they're irritated or protruding and looks to see if your
thyroid gland is enlarged. Because Graves' disease increases
your metabolism, your doctor will check your pulse and blood
pressure and look for signs of tremor. - Blood sample. Your
doctor may order blood tests to determine your levels of
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the pituitary hormone that
normally stimulates the thyroid gland, as well as levels of
thyroid hormones. People with Graves' disease usually have lower
than normal levels of TSH and higher levels of thyroid hormones.
Another laboratory test measures the levels of the antibody
known to cause Graves' disease. This te