- 作者：Maria Salinasa ; b ; salinas_mar@gva.es" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author ; Maite Ló ; pez-Garrigó ; sa ; b ; Francisco J. Pomaresc ; Emilio Floresa ; d ; Joaquí ; n Urise ; Carlos Leiva-Salinasf ; on behalf of the rest of authors of Grupo piloto para la adecuació ; n de la demanda de pruebas de laboratorio (REDCONLAB)&loz ;
- 关键词：Suitability ; Clinical laboratory ; Variability ; Thyroid function tests
- 刊名：Endocrinología y Nutrición (English Edition)
- 出版年：2016
- 出版时间：January 2016
- 年：2016
- 卷：63
- 期：1
- 页码：19-26
- 全文大小：566 K
The study objectives were to compare the inter-regional variability in the request of laboratory thyroid tests by general practitioners (GPs) in Spain, and to investigate the potential economic savings if the goals set for some suitability indicators were reached.
Methods
Test requests per 1000 inhabitants and test ratios (free thyroxine (FT4)/thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3)/TSH, thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb)/peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)) were compared between the different areas, according to their setting, location, and management. The resulting savings if each department achieved the goals for indicator (0.25 for FT4/TSH, 0.1 for FT3/TSH) were estimated.
Results
Seventy-six laboratories covering a population of 17,679,195 inhabitants participated in the study. TSH was requested significantly less in urban-rural areas, and the requests for FT3/1000 inhabitants, FT3/TSH, and TgAb/TPOAb were higher in departments with private management. The savings generated if specifications for the ratios of related tests were met would be 937,260.5 €.
Conclusions
The high variability reported in requests for thyroid function and autoimmunity tests in Spain suggests the need for implementing strategies to improve use of such tests.