Heterophile antibody interference with thyroid assay

Intern Med. 2008;47(23):2033-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.1496. Epub 2008 Dec 1.

Abstract

Immunoassays are one of the main methods of measuring thyroid hormones. They are prone to interference. Interference of the immunoassays has been increasingly recognized as a problem because it may lead to misinterpretation of results resulting in unnecessary investigation and wrong course of treatment. We describe a patient who had interference in her thyroid function measurements (free T4, free T3 and TSH) during the course of treatment for Graves' disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Heterophile / blood*
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / blood
  • Graves Disease / diagnosis
  • Graves Disease / physiopathology
  • Graves Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Thyroid Function Tests*
  • Thyroid Gland

Substances

  • Antibodies, Heterophile