Estimation of free thyroxin with a new thyroxin analog and a porous-glass solid phase.

We evaluated a new thyroxin analog-based assay for free thyroxin (FT4) (Corning Medical), finding it technically simple and precise (between-assay CVs of 3.3 and 4.2% for FT4 concentrations of 12 and 25 ng/L, respectively). We measured FT4 in a total of 325 serum samples from euthyroid patients; patients receiving replacement thyroxin; patients receiving estrogens or who were pregnant; hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and non- thyroidally ill patients; and patients receiving salicylates, phenytoin, or heparin. This assay clearly identified hyper- and hypothyroid patients, and produced similar results in euthyroid patients with above-normal, normal, or low concentration of thyroxin-binding globulin. Results in some non-thyroid-illness patients and patients receiving salicylates or phenytoin were low compared with euthyroid patients receiving no medications, but the diagnostic accuracy of the Corning FT4 assay exceeded that of another analog-based assay (Amersham) in these particular groups. We believe the new Corning analog FT4 assay offers an attractive alternative to other commercial FT4 systems.