CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman said she caught a local lab's mistake when they misread her test results.
For the past year, Dee Salmone said she's been struggling with severe symptoms of a hypothyroid condition.
"I'm very tired. Every joint aches. My muscles ache. I have difficulty concentrating," she said.
Salamone said she went to Mecklenburg Medical Group for testing in January.
A few weeks later, Salamone received a letter stating her T3 level, a measurement of how her thyroid functions, was above normal range and she was over-medicated.
After researching thyroid test ranges, Salamone said she learned the lab's range was wrong.
"A lot of people would not have realized that error and apparently many of the doctors didn't either." she said.
Salamone said she alerted officials to the error, but they dismissed the error.
Kevin McCarthy, a representative from Carolinas Healthcare System, said that no one in the company was available to discuss the issue, but did release a statement by email.
"At no time were inaccurate thyroid tests performed on patients at Carolinas HealthCare System. We discovered that the normal range for one specific thyroid test needed to be updated per manufacturer's guidelines and corrective action was taken prior to an inspection by the state. This test is used along with other thyroid tests and clinical evaluation to determine a treatment plan. Physicians were notified of the revised test range and, to date, no patients have been identified who need to be retested or have their treatment plans changed," McCarthy said.
Salamone said she wants patients to pay attention to any test results and ask questions.
"I don't want a ‘thank you.’ I want all of the patients who may have been affected to be notified," she said.
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