CLN Daily
Thyroid function tests are among the most frequently ordered laboratory assays, yet differences in measurement methods and interpretation continue to create challenges for clinicians and laboratorians alike. At Thursday’s scientific session at ADLM 2026, “Update on thyroid function tests and efforts to improve their reliability,” experts will explore how advances in biomarkers, evolving clinical guidelines, and international standardization efforts are reshaping thyroid disease diagnosis and management.
Moderated by Uliana Danilenko, PhD, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the session will emphasize a common message: Optimal thyroid-disease care depends on accurate measurement, thoughtful interpretation, and close collaboration between laboratory professionals and clinicians. The speakers will examine the strengths and limitations of current thyroid biomarkers and discuss how assay variability can influence patient care.
Brian Kim, MD, of the University of Chicago, will address reference ranges for thyroid function and the challenges associated with diagnosing and monitoring hypothyroidism. His presentation will focus on how lab variability affects interpretation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and other thyroid-function tests, with particular attention to the implications of harmonization efforts and the development of more clinically meaningful reference intervals.
As trends and guidelines for thyroid-disease management continue to evolve, clinicians are increasingly faced with questions about which tests provide the greatest diagnostic value and how to interpret them in diverse patient populations. Kim’s talk will address these issues while underscoring the importance of providing a comprehensive evaluation without introducing unnecessary testing.
Trevor Angell, MD, of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, will discuss diagnostic approaches to autoimmune thyroid disease. He will review the expanding role of routine (e.g., TSH) and specialized (e.g., thyroid autoantibodies) testing in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune thyroid disorders. Dr. Angell will also explore how current clinical guidelines and specific patient populations influence testing strategies.
In the final presentation, Danilenko will examine the current state of FT4 and TSH testing and review the routine first-line tests used in thyroid evaluation. He will also highlight ongoing efforts to improve assay reliability with respect to CDC’s Clinical Standardization Programs, harmonization initiatives, and implementation challenges. Recent collaborations between the CDC and the American Thyroid Association have accelerated efforts to improve comparability among thyroid assays and prepare healthcare teams for standardized reporting.
According to the speakers, this session is especially timely. Patients are increasingly engaged in their own healthcare and seek both standard and nontraditional laboratory testing options. At the same time, healthcare professionals’ concerns regarding assay variability and lack of comparability between methods can complicate diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment decisions.
Ultimately, the speakers want to address gaps that extend beyond analytical performance. Education, communication, and strong partnerships between laboratorians and clinicians is essential to ensure that advances in thyroid testing translate into better outcomes for patients. Attendees can expect a practical overview of where thyroid diagnostics stand today—and where they are headed tomorrow.