Simultaneous Testing For Thyroid Hormones

Main Category: Endocrinology
Article Date: 22 Apr 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Randox Laboratories produces Thyroid Array biochips to simultaneously test for three thyroid hormones in a single sample. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is released by the pituitary gland in the brain.

Thyroxine (FT₄ or TT₄) and tri-iodothyronine (FT₃ or TT₃) are hormones produced by the thyroid gland. TSH is performed as the initial screening test and all three hormones are essential in the diagnosis of thyroid disease.

According to the UK National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines: "Currently, measurement of the serum TSH concentration is the most reliable indicator of thyroid status at the tissue level."

Thyroid Array biochips simultaneously test for all three thyroid hormones in a single sample. The Evidence immunoassay analyser from Randox Laboratories offers the unique option of reflex reporting. If the TSH test result is within the normal range, only the TSH result is reported and the laboratory only pays for one test. If the TSH test result is elevated or low, the thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine test results are automatically reported as well. Reflex reporting offers a number of advantages: only one blood sample is required; the laboratory only performs one test procedure; and the laboratory only pays for the extra thyroid hormone tests when they are required.

The most common thyroid diseases are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, affecting about 2% of the population. In hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone levels are higher than normal; in hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone levels are low. Other thyroid conditions are goitre and thyroiditis. Thyroid cancer varies between slow-growing tumours with a good prognosis, to aggressive tumours with limited treatment options. Thyroid problems are about ten times more common in women than in men.

About Randox

Randox is an international diagnostics company, headquartered in the UK. Randox develop, manufacture and market clinical diagnostic products worldwide. Core products are: Biochip Array Technology; clinical chemistry analysers and reagents; quality controls and EQA; environmental diagnostics; recombinant proteins and antibodies.

For further information contact:

Randox Laboratories
Diamond Road
Crumlin
Co. Antrim BT29 4QY
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9442 2413
Fax: +44 (0) 28 9445 2912
marketing@randox.com
http://www.randox.com