Prof. Aw Tar Choon

MBBS, M.Med (Int.Medicine), MRCP, FRCPA (Chem.Pathology), MPP, FRCPE, FAMS

Clinical Professor (Pathology), Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Director (Chemical Pathology), Department of Laboratory Medicine

Changi General Hospital, Singapore

Wendy Phua, PhD

Scientific Affairs Liaison
Sysmex Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Lecture Abstract

Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs) play a crucial role in the diagnosis and effective management of thyroid disease.

A thyroid panel consisting of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) should form the first line of diagnostic tests; Tri-iodothyronine (T3), either total or free, may occasionally be needed as well. TSH is a sensitive indicator of primary thyroid gland dysfunction. Current TSH immunoassays permit the accurate detection of all common causes of thyroid hormone deficiency and excess. Indeed, TSH levels become abnormal when patients’ thyroid hormone levels remain within broad reference ranges, conditions termed subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism. While a single measurement of TSH permits an accurate classification of thyroid status in primary thyroid gland dysfunction, subclinical states requires both TSH & fT4. Limitations of TSH testing occur when there is secondary thyroid dysfunction, reduced biologic activity of thyroid hormones or TSH itself, temporary disequilibrium of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, or analytic problems affecting the TSH immunoassay.

During this session, Prof. Aw will provide his perspective on the daily management of thyroid pathologies and discuss why laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. He will also discuss the latest developments in the assessment of thyroid disorders.