TFT
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Thyroid function tests |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Technology & Computing |
TFT has two meanings. It stands for Thyroid function tests (laboratory test) or Thin-film transistor (consumer electronics).
Meanings of TFT at a glance
| # | TFT stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thyroid function tests | Medical › Laboratory Test |
| 2 | Thin-film transistor | Technology & Computing › Consumer Electronics |
1. Thyroid function tests
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Umbrella term for the blood tests that assess the thyroid: TSH, free T4 and sometimes free or total T3, with thyroid antibodies added when autoimmune disease is suspected. Results are read as a pattern, such as high TSH with low FT4 for primary hypothyroidism.
Example: TFTs normal; fatigue workup moving on to ferritin and a sleep history.
Common in British and Commonwealth usage as "TFTs". Many labs run a cascade in which TSH is measured first and free T4 or T3 is added only if TSH is abnormal, cutting costs. Acute illness can produce misleading patterns (non-thyroidal illness syndrome), so testing is often deferred until recovery.
2. Thin-film transistor
Technology & Computing · Consumer Electronics Abbreviations · also used in science
Tiny transistor deposited on the glass of a display to control each subpixel individually, the basis of active-matrix LCD and OLED screens. Spec sheets often say "TFT LCD" for basic LCD panels.
Example: The budget phone's TFT LCD looks washed out next to an AMOLED screen.
Nearly all modern LCDs are TFT displays, so the label reveals little; IPS and VA screens are TFT LCDs too. Backplane materials include amorphous silicon, LTPS (low-temperature polysilicon), IGZO and LTPO, which differ in speed and power efficiency. TFT backplanes replaced passive-matrix designs that suffered from slow response and ghosting.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- TAT – Turnaround time
- TBili – Total bilirubin
- TC – Total cholesterol
- TDM – Therapeutic drug monitoring
- TG – Triglycerides
- TIBC – Total iron-binding capacity
- TP – Total protein
- TSAT – Transferrin saturation
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
More consumer electronics abbreviations
- SD – Standard definition
- SDR – Standard dynamic range
- SECAM – Séquentiel couleur à mémoire (sequential color with memory)
- STB – Set-top box
- THX – Tomlinson Holman's eXperiment
- TN – Twisted nematic
- TPU – Thermoplastic polyurethane
- TRRS – Tip, ring, ring, sleeve
See all 104 consumer electronics abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.