Do lab test scores for FREE T-3 and FREE T-4 exclude all the molecules
that have been bound with antibodies?

I thought T-3 and T-4 were iodine.

The thyroid uses these forms of iodine and a low score on this
indicates low iodine levels. Low iodine levels may be problematic to
health and cuase goiters.

: )

If the lab test is a direct measurement, then free T3 (FT3) and free
T4 (FT4) values are unbound concentrations in respect to binding to
thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG).  The predominant binding protein of
thyroxine is TBG, in which ~98% of the hormone is bound.  Most blood
tests for FT3/4 (such as radio-immunoassays, ELISA, etc.) utilize
antibodies which bind each of the hormones.  As such, special
instances are plausible in which an exiting antibody-hormone complex
could affect the measured free hormone levels.   If the antibody used
in the FT3/4 assay binds the SAME epitope as the pre-bound antibody
(in blood sample), then the assay WILL NOT recognize the T3/T4 as a
free molecule.  Likewise, if the two antibodies have DISTINCT epitopes
which do not intefere with each other's binding abilities, then the
FT3/4 assay WILL recognize the T3/T4 as a free molecule.

Hope this helps. -SG