Level 3, Main Building Royal North Shore Hospital Pacific Highway St Leonards   NSW   2065 Phone: 61 2 9926 8388   Fax: 61 2 9926 7525 Lab. Ph: 61 2 9926-7505

Head of Department Dr Greg Fulcher email to:gfulcher@med.usyd.edu.au

The Endocrinology Laboratory provides diagnostic services and undertakes research in regard to hormones and other biochemical markers of endocrine and metabolic disease states. A wide range of services are offered by this specialist area. These include usage of a random access analytical service for a number of frequently requested analytes including thyroid function tests, pituitary hormones (LH, FSH, prolactin), steroid hormones (cortisol, testosterone) and glyco haemoglobin (HbA1c). Dynamic tests of endocrine function (e.g. Synacthen test, TRH or pentagastrin stimulation tests etc.) can be performed on site and the resultant blood samples quickly analysed. A wide range of analyses for hormones and biochemical markers of endocrine disease are performed in the following areas: thyroid autoimmunity bone and mineral cancer markers steroids diabetes (urinary, albumin, lipoprotein(a), insulin, C-peptide) ACTH, growth hormome, IGF-1 The Laboratory operates as a referral laboratory receiving specimens for analysis from a wide range of hospitals and pathology centres both in N.S.W. and interstate in regard to specialised areas of testing (thyroid antibodies, thyroglobulin and bone and mineral markers). The PaLMS Endocrinology Laboratory and Endocrinology Department RNS, work in close association with several units within the RNSH including Northern Metropolitan Health Region Diabetic Education Service, the Breast Receptor Laboratory and the Kolling Institute of Medical Research. The Endocrinology Laboratory has acquired considerable experience in analytical method development in immunoassay, having developed a number of hormone assays including preparation of pure analyte, labelling of tracers and preparation of specific antibodies. Antibodies have been supplied to other research groups both within Australia and overseas. Other laboratory research interests have included: Divalent cations in cell signalling The mechanism of action of lithium salts and their toxicity In vitro studies of hormone modulation of bone like formation Thyroid receptor antibodies The genetics study of familial hyperparathyroid syndromes The laboratory supports the Endocrinology Department clinical research programs including:   Diabetes education, diabetes complications, lipoprotein metabolism, bone and mineral metabolism, hyper- and hypoparathyroidism and thyroid cancer.

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