Open Source Canadian Thyroid Test Interpretation Tool - SPINA

[SeanKey]

*multiple edits, thanks for the feedback

I came across this tool which originates in Germany, it just needs values for TSH, FT4 and FT3 and from there tries to characterise underling Thyroid conditions. I've downloaded it fine, and it's fairly simple to set up. Not sure how easy the results are to interpret though.

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/06/...

As it's Open Source it's free to use and seems to come from reputable researchers.

This article puts the tool into context supporting patients on T4 therapy but still reporting low quality of life frontiersin.org/articles/10...

[shaws Administrator]

Thanks for post SeanKey and I recognise a few of the researchers' names who are also Advisers to Thyroiduk.org.uk.

thyroiduk.org/about-thyroid...

[diogenes Remembering]

The actual inventor and author of the SPINA system is not Canadian but is Dr Johannes W Dietrich of Bochum University in Germany. Our group is in close contact with the Canadian site's author Dr Tania Smith, so she has picked it up there from the Dietrich paper.

[SeanKey]

Thanks, I tried to run mine but then realised I had only one FT3 test done by my GP, and this was when I was, ahem, experimenting with my Levo... so not much use. I'd have thought a tool like this would have been helpful to GPs when faced with a patient not benefitting from Levo... has anyone tried persuading a GP to look at it's output?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeanKey]

I suspect that GPs would be rather cautious of using any such software that has not been formally approved by the MHRA for the specific purpose.

It's quality might be beyond reproach, but without appropriate approval, it is simply not going to be adopted.

[tattybogle in reply to SeanKey]

even if they were allowed /had time /interest to do so ... they would rarely be allowed to order the fT3 tests needed to fill it in.