The use of filter paper-dried blood spots for thyroid-antibody screening in adults.

Thyroid-antibody screening is recommended for several adult populations, including the elderly and pregnant and postpartum women, and analysis of filter paper-dried blood spots (DBSs) has been a cost-effective means of screening newborns for hypothyroidism for more than 30 years. The aim of this study was to show that DBS specimens can be used to test adults for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) antibodies and thyroid antibodies during screening for thyroid disease in a community setting. Thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobilin antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for serum have been adapted for use with DBSs.