SYNOPSIS Serum thyroxine concentrations were measured in five groups of subjects using kits containing absorbent granules. A free thyroxine index was determined from these estimations in association with triiodothyronine uptake ratios using Thyopac-3 kits. The values obtained were compared with thyroxine concentrations and T-7 values using kits containing resin sponges. Measurements with the absorbent granule kits and in particular the calculated free thyroxine index have proved very valuable in distinguishing between euthyroid, hyperthyroid, and hypothyroid subjects. The advantages of these kits over resin sponge kits are discussed.The clinical assessment of thyroid function has been greatly assisted by the recent development of sensitive in-vitro methods using tracer amounts of radioactive labelled compounds for measuring thyroid hormone concentrations in blood. Techniques include anion exchange resin (Murphy and Jachan, 1965), resin sponges (Godwin and Swoope, 1968), or strips containing resin embedded in a fibre matrix (Thorson, Tsujikawa, Brown, Morrison, and McIntosh, 1970) for measuring the total serum thyroxine concentration which is bound mostly to proteins. These materials act as secondary binders of thyroid hormones after their release from proteins by a suitable extraction solution.Thyroid function, however, appears to be more specifically influenced by unbound thyroxine concentrations in blood and methods for determining this free thyroxine fraction include the dialysis and magnesium-precipitate technique of Sterling and Brenner (1966). Harvey (1971)