Automated Test for Thyroid Functioning

A new automated test for the quantitative determination of autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (aTPO) can be used with blood serum or plasma.

Measurement of thyroid autoantibodies aids the diagnosis, confirmation, and treatment monitoring of a range of illnesses relating to the thyroid gland, because aTPO antibodies play a significant role in many thyroid disorders. They are present in the majority of patients suffering from underactive thyroid, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Graves' disease. In addition, aTPO antibodies are found in patients with atropic thyroiditis and primary myxedema. Increased levels also occur in women with postpartum thyroiditis.

This growth in the demand for autoimmune thyroid testing has resulted in the need for automated testing, said Bayer Diagnostics (Newbury, UK), which developed the aTPO test. Other thyroid tests that can also be automated on Bayer's Advia CentaurT include TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), T4, T3, Free T4, FreeT3 and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG).

"The aTPO test is helpful for patients who have borderline raised TSH, because those who also have high TPO antibodies are at risk of developing long-term hypothyroidism and should be considered for treatment with thyroxine,” said Dr. Rhys John, consultant clinical biochemist at the University Hospital of Wales (Cardiff, UK).


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