A Strategy for Thyroid Function Tests

Abstract

The concept of decision-aiding ranges was introduced to improve diagnostic efficiency. The clinical uncertainty in distinguishing borderline cases of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism among 1569 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. © 1975, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.