AGE MALES/FEMALES 0 - 3 days .6-3.0 ng/mL 4 days - 1 year .9-2.6 ng/mL 1 day - 6 years .9-2.4 ng/mL 7 - 11 years .9-2.3 ng/mL 12 - 18 years 1.0-2.1 ng/mL Adults .8-2.0 ng/mL

The assay is unaffected by icterus (bilirubin less than 35 mg/dL), hemolysis (Hb less than 2000 mg/dL), lipemia (triglycerides less than 1800 mg/dL) and biotin is less than 20 ng/mL (criterion: recovery within plus or minus 10% of initial value). In patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (approx. 5 mg/day) no sample should be taken until at least 8 hours after the last biotin administration. No interference was observed from rheumatoid factor (up to 1500 U/mL) and samples from dialysis patients. Twenty-six commonly used pharmaceuticals were tested in vitro. No interference with the assay was found. Therapy with amiodarone can lead to abnormal thyroid hormone tests. Phenytoin, phenylbutazone and salicylates cause release of T3 from the binding proteins, thus leading to a reduction in the total T3 hormone level at normal fT3 levels. Auto-antibodies to thyroid hormones can interfere with the test. Pathological concentrations of binding proteins (TBG, albumin) can lead to total T3 values outside the normal range being found despite a euthyroid metabolic state (e.g. in NTI-patients, pregnancy, use of oral contraceptives). In such cases, determination of free T4 and/or free T3 may be indicated. The risk of interference from potential immunological interactions between test components and rare sera has been minimized by the inclusion of additives. For diagnostic purposes, the T3 findings should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.