The suitable prescription of the thyroid blood test in the diagnosis of dysthyroidism: a retrospective study in Rouen University Hospital

The thyroid blood test (TSH, FT4, FT3) is often prescribed. This test follows specific French guide-lines. The aim of this work was to study whether its prescription, as part of the initial diagnosis of dysthyroidism, complied with the official recommendations at Rouen University Hospital. We also evaluated the evolution of its prescription between 2014 and 2017 at Rouen University Hospital. A descriptive retrospective study was performed on patients who had undergone a thyroid blood test from June 1st, 2017 to June 29th, 2017. Among the 1,143 thyroid blood test used to assess the suitable prescription of the thyroid blood test, 143 did not respect the wide-lines (12.5%). Among the 143 thyroid blood test, 108 (or 75.5%) came from consultation or day hospital units. The significant percentage of thyroid tests that did not comply with the guide-lines is mainly due to the achievement of a "complete thyroid blood test" for reasons of convenience.