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Vol 71, No 6 (2020)
Review paper
Submitted: 2020-08-07
Accepted: 2020-09-01
Published online: 2020-12-29
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Laboratory interference in the thyroid function test

Katarzyna Paczkowska1, Anna Otlewska1, Olga Loska2, Katarzyna Kolačkov1, Marek Bolanowski1, Jacek Daroszewski1
DOI: 10.5603/EP.a2020.0079
·
Pubmed: 33378071
·
Endokrynol Pol 2020;71(6):551-560.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Isotope Therapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
  2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

open access

Vol 71, No 6 (2020)
Review Article
Submitted: 2020-08-07
Accepted: 2020-09-01
Published online: 2020-12-29

Abstract

Thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) laboratory tests are commonly used worldwide, and their results have an important influence on decisions about treatment and further diagnostic processes.

Any discrepancies between symptoms and laboratory results or between results of different tests should be closely investigated to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.

Inconsistencies in hormone tests might be a result of physiological changes in hormonal balance, a disease, drug intake, or laboratory interference. Major factors that interfere with thyroid function tests are: heterophilic antibodies, macro TSH, biotin, thyroid hormones autoantibodies, anti-streptavidin, and anti-ruthenium antibodies.

In this paper we discuss the influence of different factors on the procedures of hormonal immunoassays, as well as methods to minimise the risk of false results and misdiagnoses.

Abstract

Thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) laboratory tests are commonly used worldwide, and their results have an important influence on decisions about treatment and further diagnostic processes.

Any discrepancies between symptoms and laboratory results or between results of different tests should be closely investigated to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.

Inconsistencies in hormone tests might be a result of physiological changes in hormonal balance, a disease, drug intake, or laboratory interference. Major factors that interfere with thyroid function tests are: heterophilic antibodies, macro TSH, biotin, thyroid hormones autoantibodies, anti-streptavidin, and anti-ruthenium antibodies.

In this paper we discuss the influence of different factors on the procedures of hormonal immunoassays, as well as methods to minimise the risk of false results and misdiagnoses.

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Keywords

thyroid function test; laboratory interference; immunoassay

About this article
Title

Laboratory interference in the thyroid function test

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 71, No 6 (2020)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

551-560

Published online

2020-12-29

Page views

3757

Article views/downloads

5906

DOI

10.5603/EP.a2020.0079

Pubmed

33378071

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2020;71(6):551-560.

Keywords

thyroid function test
laboratory interference
immunoassay

Authors

Katarzyna Paczkowska
Anna Otlewska
Olga Loska
Katarzyna Kolačkov
Marek Bolanowski
Jacek Daroszewski

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