Evaluation of a laboratory reflex testing protocol to detect hypopituitarism in primary care presenting as hypothyroxinaemia.

Background: Thyroid function tests (TFTs) are routinely requested by general practitioners (GPs) in the clinical biochemistry laboratory. Hypothyroxinaemia (low fT4) accompanied by TSH within the reference interval (RI) is a discordant pattern which is seen commonly in non-thyroidal illness and also as result of medications. Hypopituitarism is a lot rarer, but a serious condition the laboratory does not want to miss.

An investigation of the reliability of Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) as a method of assessment of children's computing posture.

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) is a quick observation method of posture analysis. RULA has been used to assess children's computer-related posture, but the reliability of RULA on a paediatric population has not been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the use of RULA with children.