Prof Forrest raises an interesting point. Should the laboratory do
what ever a clinician asks for at all times? After all most us have
MLSOs analysing acute work and none of it is vetted by laboratory
clinicians. MLSOs are not equipped with the training to question an
unusual request. Should we not have a view about the appopriateness
of tests? I do not think that anyone was suggesting that the TFTs
should not be done in this case, only whether they should be delayed
for a few hours until the next working day. Indeed, my copy of
Williams Textbook of Endocrinology states that one should not wait for
TFTs to be analysed before starting treatment.
If the argument continues along the line of a "...desperately
ill patient..." should we not analyse catecholamines at night for
patients with malignant hypertension?
Julian Barth
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Julian H Barth
Department of Chemical Pathology & Immunology
Leeds General Infirmary
Leeds LS1 3EX
tel 0113-392-3416
fax 0113-233-5672
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