Intended for healthcare professionals

Research Article

A strategy for thyroid function tests.

Br Med J 1975; 3 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.3.5979.350 (Published 09 August 1975) Cite this as: Br Med J 1975;3:350
  1. K E Britton,
  2. V Quinn,
  3. B L Brown,
  4. R P Ekins

    Abstract

    The concept of decision-aiding ranges were introduced to improve diagnostic efficiency. The clinical uncertainty in distinguishing borderline cases of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism among 1559 consecutive requests for thyroid function tests was 47%. This was reduced to 22% by using the free thyroxine index and to under 2% by using specific tests determined by the decision-aiding ranges.