A Google search for "thyroid function tests" brought up a definition square at the top of the search results. It says that "Thyroid function tests" is a collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid. A TFT panel typically includes thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) and thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) depending on local laboratory policy." (Thyroid Function … Continue reading What’s wrong with calling TSH, FT3 and FT4 “thyroid function tests”?
Economic pressures on health care systems worldwide have led to government-funded and medical-association supported campaigns like Choosing Wisely that offer "toolkits" promoting the cancellation of laboratory tests and treatments. These cancellations affect a wide variety of patients with many health conditions, not just thyroid patients. However, thyroid patients are being hit hard by test cancellations. … Continue reading How can clinical biochemists help or harm thyroid patients?
We're trying a new strategy to crowdsource data on Canadian thyroid patients' access to thyroid laboratory testing. For a limited time, we are test-driving an anonymous survey with a real-time report that displays up to date statistics and results. Take the survey Here's the link to the Canadian Thyroid Testing Tips & Challenges survey page. … Continue reading Survey: Canadian Thyroid Testing Tips & Challenges
Does the statistically-defined "normal" TSH reference range for the healthy population describe the TSH range for a healthy individual? Does having a TSH within the normal laboratory range always mean you, as an individual are biologically euthyroid? Does falling outside statistical TSH normality really mean that you are hypothyroid or thyrotoxic? This is part 2 … Continue reading Relational Stability, Part 2: Normality of TSH and thyroid hormones
Canadians can take pride in their historical defense of T3 testing in thyroid therapy. Our job defending the T3 test today is to remind people of what has changed since then in thyroid testing, and what is still the same. In 1981, Min Min Wong and Robert Volpé, MD published an article in the Canadian … Continue reading In 1981, Canadian physicians argued T3 was the best test in thyroid therapy
