diff --git a/pgtype/aclitem.go b/pgtype/aclitem.go
index 77e385e6..3ccf8318 100644
--- a/pgtype/aclitem.go
+++ b/pgtype/aclitem.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (src *Aclitem) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/aclitem_array.go b/pgtype/aclitem_array.go
index 20a7636a..7ef76573 100644
--- a/pgtype/aclitem_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/aclitem_array.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (src *AclitemArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/bool.go b/pgtype/bool.go
index 736d19cf..1ebf590b 100644
--- a/pgtype/bool.go
+++ b/pgtype/bool.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func (src *Bool) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/bool_array.go b/pgtype/bool_array.go
index 4705d734..468f6816 100644
--- a/pgtype/bool_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/bool_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *BoolArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/bytea.go b/pgtype/bytea.go
index 9f0266e7..8bf5de2b 100644
--- a/pgtype/bytea.go
+++ b/pgtype/bytea.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (src *Bytea) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/bytea_array.go b/pgtype/bytea_array.go
index 268364c1..4aa2b862 100644
--- a/pgtype/bytea_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/bytea_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *ByteaArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/cidr_array.go b/pgtype/cidr_array.go
index 6643bb47..96d912ae 100644
--- a/pgtype/cidr_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/cidr_array.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (src *CidrArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/convert.go b/pgtype/convert.go
index 4fba8430..2b406426 100644
--- a/pgtype/convert.go
+++ b/pgtype/convert.go
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func float64AssignTo(srcVal float64, srcStatus Status, dst interface{}) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot assign %v %v into %T", srcVal, srcStatus, dst)
 }
 
-func nullAssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
+func NullAssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	dstPtr := reflect.ValueOf(dst)
 
 	// AssignTo dst must always be a pointer
diff --git a/pgtype/date.go b/pgtype/date.go
index 7dd2c4f0..34753f05 100644
--- a/pgtype/date.go
+++ b/pgtype/date.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (src *Date) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/date_array.go b/pgtype/date_array.go
index f58de011..f24bf6b9 100644
--- a/pgtype/date_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/date_array.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func (src *DateArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric/decimal.go b/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric/decimal.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c7e316b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric/decimal.go
@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+package numeric
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"database/sql/driver"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/pgtype"
+	"github.com/shopspring/decimal"
+)
+
+var errUndefined = errors.New("cannot encode status undefined")
+
+type Numeric struct {
+	Decimal decimal.Decimal
+	Status  pgtype.Status
+}
+
+func (dst *Numeric) Set(src interface{}) error {
+	if src == nil {
+		*dst = Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	switch value := src.(type) {
+	case decimal.Decimal:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: value, Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case float32:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.NewFromFloat(float64(value)), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case float64:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.NewFromFloat(value), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case int8:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case uint8:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case int16:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case uint16:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case int32:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case uint32:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case int64:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case uint64:
+		// uint64 could be greater than int64 so convert to string then to decimal
+		dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(strconv.FormatUint(value, 10))
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: dec, Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case int:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.New(int64(value), 0), Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case uint:
+		// uint could be greater than int64 so convert to string then to decimal
+		dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10))
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: dec, Status: pgtype.Present}
+	case string:
+		dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: dec, Status: pgtype.Present}
+	default:
+		// If all else fails see if pgtype.Numeric can handle it. If so, translate through that.
+		num := &pgtype.Numeric{}
+		if err := num.Set(value); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to Numeric", value)
+		}
+
+		buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+		if _, err := num.EncodeText(nil, buf); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to Numeric", value)
+		}
+
+		dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(buf.String())
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to Numeric", value)
+		}
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: dec, Status: pgtype.Present}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dst *Numeric) Get() interface{} {
+	switch dst.Status {
+	case pgtype.Present:
+		return dst.Decimal
+	case pgtype.Null:
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return dst.Status
+	}
+}
+
+func (src *Numeric) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
+	switch src.Status {
+	case pgtype.Present:
+		switch v := dst.(type) {
+		case *decimal.Decimal:
+			*v = src.Decimal
+		case *float32:
+			f, _ := src.Decimal.Float64()
+			*v = float32(f)
+		case *float64:
+			f, _ := src.Decimal.Float64()
+			*v = f
+		case *int:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseInt(src.Decimal.String(), 10, strconv.IntSize)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = int(n)
+		case *int8:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseInt(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 8)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = int8(n)
+		case *int16:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseInt(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 16)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = int16(n)
+		case *int32:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseInt(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 32)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = int32(n)
+		case *int64:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseInt(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 64)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = int64(n)
+		case *uint:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 || src.Decimal.Sign() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseUint(src.Decimal.String(), 10, strconv.IntSize)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = uint(n)
+		case *uint8:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 || src.Decimal.Sign() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseUint(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 8)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = uint8(n)
+		case *uint16:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 || src.Decimal.Sign() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseUint(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 16)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = uint16(n)
+		case *uint32:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 || src.Decimal.Sign() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseUint(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 32)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = uint32(n)
+		case *uint64:
+			if src.Decimal.Exponent() < 0 || src.Decimal.Sign() < 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.ParseUint(src.Decimal.String(), 10, 64)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %v to %T", dst, *v)
+			}
+			*v = uint64(n)
+		default:
+			if nextDst, retry := pgtype.GetAssignToDstType(dst); retry {
+				return src.AssignTo(nextDst)
+			}
+		}
+	case pgtype.Null:
+		return pgtype.NullAssignTo(dst)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dst *Numeric) DecodeText(ci *pgtype.ConnInfo, src []byte) error {
+	if src == nil {
+		*dst = Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(string(src))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	*dst = Numeric{Decimal: dec, Status: pgtype.Present}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dst *Numeric) DecodeBinary(ci *pgtype.ConnInfo, src []byte) error {
+	if src == nil {
+		*dst = Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// For now at least, implement this in terms of pgtype.Numeric
+
+	num := &pgtype.Numeric{}
+	if err := num.DecodeBinary(ci, src); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	if _, err := num.EncodeText(ci, buf); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(buf.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	*dst = Numeric{Decimal: dec, Status: pgtype.Present}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (src *Numeric) EncodeText(ci *pgtype.ConnInfo, w io.Writer) (bool, error) {
+	switch src.Status {
+	case pgtype.Null:
+		return true, nil
+	case pgtype.Undefined:
+		return false, errUndefined
+	}
+
+	_, err := io.WriteString(w, src.Decimal.String())
+	return false, err
+}
+
+func (src *Numeric) EncodeBinary(ci *pgtype.ConnInfo, w io.Writer) (bool, error) {
+	switch src.Status {
+	case pgtype.Null:
+		return true, nil
+	case pgtype.Undefined:
+		return false, errUndefined
+	}
+
+	// For now at least, implement this in terms of pgtype.Numeric
+	num := &pgtype.Numeric{}
+	if err := num.DecodeText(ci, []byte(src.Decimal.String())); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	return num.EncodeBinary(ci, w)
+}
+
+// Scan implements the database/sql Scanner interface.
+func (dst *Numeric) Scan(src interface{}) error {
+	if src == nil {
+		*dst = Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	switch src := src.(type) {
+	case float64:
+		*dst = Numeric{Decimal: decimal.NewFromFloat(src), Status: pgtype.Present}
+		return nil
+	case string:
+		return dst.DecodeText(nil, []byte(src))
+	case []byte:
+		return dst.DecodeText(nil, src)
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Errorf("cannot scan %T", src)
+}
+
+// Value implements the database/sql/driver Valuer interface.
+func (src *Numeric) Value() (driver.Value, error) {
+	switch src.Status {
+	case pgtype.Present:
+		return src.Decimal.Value()
+	case pgtype.Null:
+		return nil, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, errUndefined
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric/decimal_test.go b/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric/decimal_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..50c0fb8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric/decimal_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+package numeric_test
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"math/big"
+	"math/rand"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/pgtype"
+	shopspring "github.com/jackc/pgx/pgtype/ext/shopspring-numeric"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/pgtype/testutil"
+	"github.com/shopspring/decimal"
+)
+
+func mustParseDecimal(t *testing.T, src string) decimal.Decimal {
+	dec, err := decimal.NewFromString(src)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return dec
+}
+
+func TestNumericNormalize(t *testing.T) {
+	testutil.TestSuccessfulNormalize(t, []testutil.NormalizeTest{
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '0'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '1'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '10.00'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "10.00"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '1e-3'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '-1'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '10000'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "10000"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '3.14'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "3.14"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '1.1'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1.1"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '100010001'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "100010001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL:   "select '100010001.0001'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "100010001.0001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL: "select '4237234789234789289347892374324872138321894178943189043890124832108934.43219085471578891547854892438945012347981'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{
+				Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "4237234789234789289347892374324872138321894178943189043890124832108934.43219085471578891547854892438945012347981"),
+				Status:  pgtype.Present,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL: "select '0.8925092023480223478923478978978937897879595901237890234789243679037419057877231734823098432903527585734549035904590854890345905434578345789347890402348952348905890489054234237489234987723894789234'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{
+				Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.8925092023480223478923478978978937897879595901237890234789243679037419057877231734823098432903527585734549035904590854890345905434578345789347890402348952348905890489054234237489234987723894789234"),
+				Status:  pgtype.Present,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			SQL: "select '0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000123'::numeric",
+			Value: shopspring.Numeric{
+				Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000123"),
+				Status:  pgtype.Present,
+			},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestNumericTranscode(t *testing.T) {
+	testutil.TestSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t, "numeric", []interface{}{
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "100000"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.1"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.01"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.0001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.00001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.000001"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "3.14"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.00000123"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.000000123"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.0000000123"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.00000000123"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001234567890123456789"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "4309132809320932980457137401234890237489238912983572189348951289375283573984571892758234678903467889512893489128589347891272139.8489235871258912789347891235879148795891238915678189467128957812395781238579189025891238901583915890128973578957912385798125789012378905238905471598123758923478294374327894237892234"), Status: pgtype.Present},
+		&shopspring.Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null},
+	}, func(aa, bb interface{}) bool {
+		a := aa.(shopspring.Numeric)
+		b := bb.(shopspring.Numeric)
+
+		return a.Status == b.Status && a.Decimal.Equal(b.Decimal)
+	})
+
+}
+
+func TestNumericTranscodeFuzz(t *testing.T) {
+	r := rand.New(rand.NewSource(0))
+	max := &big.Int{}
+	max.SetString("9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999", 10)
+
+	values := make([]interface{}, 0, 2000)
+	for i := 0; i < 500; i++ {
+		num := fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", (&big.Int{}).Rand(r, max).String(), (&big.Int{}).Rand(r, max).String())
+		negNum := "-" + num
+		values = append(values, &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, num), Status: pgtype.Present})
+		values = append(values, &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, negNum), Status: pgtype.Present})
+	}
+
+	testutil.TestSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t, "numeric", values,
+		func(aa, bb interface{}) bool {
+			a := aa.(shopspring.Numeric)
+			b := bb.(shopspring.Numeric)
+
+			return a.Status == b.Status && a.Decimal.Equal(b.Decimal)
+		})
+}
+
+func TestNumericSet(t *testing.T) {
+	type _int8 int8
+
+	successfulTests := []struct {
+		source interface{}
+		result *shopspring.Numeric
+	}{
+		{source: float32(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: float64(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int8(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int16(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int32(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int64(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int8(-1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int16(-1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int32(-1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: int64(-1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: uint8(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: uint16(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: uint32(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: uint64(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: "1", result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: _int8(1), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: float64(1000), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1000"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: float64(1234), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "1234"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: float64(12345678900), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "12345678900"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+		{source: float64(12345.678901), result: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "12345.678901"), Status: pgtype.Present}},
+	}
+
+	for i, tt := range successfulTests {
+		r := &shopspring.Numeric{}
+		err := r.Set(tt.source)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%d: %v", i, err)
+		}
+
+		if !(r.Status == tt.result.Status && r.Decimal.Equal(tt.result.Decimal)) {
+			t.Errorf("%d: expected %v to convert to %v, but it was %v", i, tt.source, tt.result, r)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNumericAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
+	type _int8 int8
+
+	var i8 int8
+	var i16 int16
+	var i32 int32
+	var i64 int64
+	var i int
+	var ui8 uint8
+	var ui16 uint16
+	var ui32 uint32
+	var ui64 uint64
+	var ui uint
+	var pi8 *int8
+	var _i8 _int8
+	var _pi8 *_int8
+	var f32 float32
+	var f64 float64
+	var pf32 *float32
+	var pf64 *float64
+
+	simpleTests := []struct {
+		src      *shopspring.Numeric
+		dst      interface{}
+		expected interface{}
+	}{
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &f32, expected: float32(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &f64, expected: float64(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "4.2"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &f32, expected: float32(4.2)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "4.2"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &f64, expected: float64(4.2)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i16, expected: int16(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i32, expected: int32(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i64, expected: int64(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42000"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i64, expected: int64(42000)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i, expected: int(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui8, expected: uint8(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui16, expected: uint16(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui32, expected: uint32(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui64, expected: uint64(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui, expected: uint(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &_i8, expected: _int8(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}, dst: &pi8, expected: ((*int8)(nil))},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}, dst: &_pi8, expected: ((*_int8)(nil))},
+	}
+
+	for i, tt := range simpleTests {
+		err := tt.src.AssignTo(tt.dst)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%d: %v", i, err)
+		}
+
+		if dst := reflect.ValueOf(tt.dst).Elem().Interface(); dst != tt.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%d: expected %v to assign %v, but result was %v", i, tt.src, tt.expected, dst)
+		}
+	}
+
+	pointerAllocTests := []struct {
+		src      *shopspring.Numeric
+		dst      interface{}
+		expected interface{}
+	}{
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &pf32, expected: float32(42)},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "42"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &pf64, expected: float64(42)},
+	}
+
+	for i, tt := range pointerAllocTests {
+		err := tt.src.AssignTo(tt.dst)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%d: %v", i, err)
+		}
+
+		if dst := reflect.ValueOf(tt.dst).Elem().Elem().Interface(); dst != tt.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%d: expected %v to assign %v, but result was %v", i, tt.src, tt.expected, dst)
+		}
+	}
+
+	errorTests := []struct {
+		src *shopspring.Numeric
+		dst interface{}
+	}{
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "150"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i8},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "40000"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &i16},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui8},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui16},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui32},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui64},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Decimal: mustParseDecimal(t, "-1"), Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &ui},
+		{src: &shopspring.Numeric{Status: pgtype.Null}, dst: &i32},
+	}
+
+	for i, tt := range errorTests {
+		err := tt.src.AssignTo(tt.dst)
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%d: expected error but none was returned (%v -> %v)", i, tt.src, tt.dst)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pgtype/float4_array.go b/pgtype/float4_array.go
index b9ee4b9e..db1523f0 100644
--- a/pgtype/float4_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/float4_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *Float4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/float8_array.go b/pgtype/float8_array.go
index d49f18a7..19878bbb 100644
--- a/pgtype/float8_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/float8_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *Float8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/hstore.go b/pgtype/hstore.go
index b8b0c6f3..5dc78671 100644
--- a/pgtype/hstore.go
+++ b/pgtype/hstore.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func (src *Hstore) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/hstore_array.go b/pgtype/hstore_array.go
index 097fec7b..e4263f20 100644
--- a/pgtype/hstore_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/hstore_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *HstoreArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/inet.go b/pgtype/inet.go
index 3e00e2fa..09fce04d 100644
--- a/pgtype/inet.go
+++ b/pgtype/inet.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (src *Inet) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/inet_array.go b/pgtype/inet_array.go
index a108d75b..4687b145 100644
--- a/pgtype/inet_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/inet_array.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (src *InetArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/int2_array.go b/pgtype/int2_array.go
index bddb5ac2..3506370e 100644
--- a/pgtype/int2_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/int2_array.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (src *Int2Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/int4_array.go b/pgtype/int4_array.go
index d5c8f911..e4ec6455 100644
--- a/pgtype/int4_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/int4_array.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (src *Int4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/int8_array.go b/pgtype/int8_array.go
index ae2521fa..6c0dab65 100644
--- a/pgtype/int8_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/int8_array.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (src *Int8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/interval.go b/pgtype/interval.go
index 7eddb10f..20a4a419 100644
--- a/pgtype/interval.go
+++ b/pgtype/interval.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func (src *Interval) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/macaddr.go b/pgtype/macaddr.go
index 2d09ff8c..2834d69f 100644
--- a/pgtype/macaddr.go
+++ b/pgtype/macaddr.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (src *Macaddr) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/numeric.go b/pgtype/numeric.go
index a26e8c89..63f99c06 100644
--- a/pgtype/numeric.go
+++ b/pgtype/numeric.go
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ func (src *Numeric) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pgtype/numeric_array.go b/pgtype/numeric_array.go
index b147e6a2..3d59a6b0 100644
--- a/pgtype/numeric_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/numeric_array.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (src *NumericArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/record.go b/pgtype/record.go
index 9c42c907..3b315d40 100644
--- a/pgtype/record.go
+++ b/pgtype/record.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (src *Record) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/testutil/testutil.go b/pgtype/testutil/testutil.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..610f0710
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pgtype/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+package testutil
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/pgtype"
+	_ "github.com/jackc/pgx/stdlib"
+	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
+)
+
+func mustConnectDatabaseSQL(t testing.TB, driverName string) *sql.DB {
+	var sqlDriverName string
+	switch driverName {
+	case "github.com/lib/pq":
+		sqlDriverName = "postgres"
+	case "github.com/jackc/pgx/stdlib":
+		sqlDriverName = "pgx"
+	default:
+		t.Fatalf("Unknown driver %v", driverName)
+	}
+
+	db, err := sql.Open(sqlDriverName, os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	return db
+}
+
+func mustConnectPgx(t testing.TB) *pgx.Conn {
+	config, err := pgx.ParseURI(os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	conn, err := pgx.Connect(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	return conn
+}
+
+func mustClose(t testing.TB, conn interface {
+	Close() error
+}) {
+	err := conn.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+type forceTextEncoder struct {
+	e pgtype.TextEncoder
+}
+
+func (f forceTextEncoder) EncodeText(ci *pgtype.ConnInfo, w io.Writer) (bool, error) {
+	return f.e.EncodeText(ci, w)
+}
+
+type forceBinaryEncoder struct {
+	e pgtype.BinaryEncoder
+}
+
+func (f forceBinaryEncoder) EncodeBinary(ci *pgtype.ConnInfo, w io.Writer) (bool, error) {
+	return f.e.EncodeBinary(ci, w)
+}
+
+func forceEncoder(e interface{}, formatCode int16) interface{} {
+	switch formatCode {
+	case pgx.TextFormatCode:
+		if e, ok := e.(pgtype.TextEncoder); ok {
+			return forceTextEncoder{e: e}
+		}
+	case pgx.BinaryFormatCode:
+		if e, ok := e.(pgtype.BinaryEncoder); ok {
+			return forceBinaryEncoder{e: e.(pgtype.BinaryEncoder)}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func TestSuccessfulTranscode(t testing.TB, pgTypeName string, values []interface{}) {
+	TestSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t, pgTypeName, values, func(a, b interface{}) bool {
+		return reflect.DeepEqual(a, b)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t testing.TB, pgTypeName string, values []interface{}, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	TestPgxSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t, pgTypeName, values, eqFunc)
+	TestPgxSimpleProtocolSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t, pgTypeName, values, eqFunc)
+	for _, driverName := range []string{"github.com/lib/pq", "github.com/jackc/pgx/stdlib"} {
+		TestDatabaseSQLSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t, driverName, pgTypeName, values, eqFunc)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPgxSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t testing.TB, pgTypeName string, values []interface{}, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	conn := mustConnectPgx(t)
+	defer mustClose(t, conn)
+
+	ps, err := conn.Prepare("test", fmt.Sprintf("select $1::%s", pgTypeName))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	formats := []struct {
+		name       string
+		formatCode int16
+	}{
+		{name: "TextFormat", formatCode: pgx.TextFormatCode},
+		{name: "BinaryFormat", formatCode: pgx.BinaryFormatCode},
+	}
+
+	for i, v := range values {
+		for _, fc := range formats {
+			ps.FieldDescriptions[0].FormatCode = fc.formatCode
+			vEncoder := forceEncoder(v, fc.formatCode)
+			if vEncoder == nil {
+				t.Logf("Skipping: %#v does not implement %v", v, fc.name)
+				continue
+			}
+			// Derefence value if it is a pointer
+			derefV := v
+			refVal := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+			if refVal.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+				derefV = refVal.Elem().Interface()
+			}
+
+			result := reflect.New(reflect.TypeOf(derefV))
+			err := conn.QueryRow("test", forceEncoder(v, fc.formatCode)).Scan(result.Interface())
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("%v %d: %v", fc.name, i, err)
+			}
+
+			if !eqFunc(result.Elem().Interface(), derefV) {
+				t.Errorf("%v %d: expected %v, got %v", fc.name, i, derefV, result.Elem().Interface())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPgxSimpleProtocolSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t testing.TB, pgTypeName string, values []interface{}, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	conn := mustConnectPgx(t)
+	defer mustClose(t, conn)
+
+	for i, v := range values {
+		// Derefence value if it is a pointer
+		derefV := v
+		refVal := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+		if refVal.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+			derefV = refVal.Elem().Interface()
+		}
+
+		result := reflect.New(reflect.TypeOf(derefV))
+		err := conn.QueryRowEx(
+			context.Background(),
+			fmt.Sprintf("select ($1)::%s", pgTypeName),
+			&pgx.QueryExOptions{SimpleProtocol: true},
+			v,
+		).Scan(result.Interface())
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Simple protocol %d: %v", i, err)
+		}
+
+		if !eqFunc(result.Elem().Interface(), derefV) {
+			t.Errorf("Simple protocol %d: expected %v, got %v", i, derefV, result.Elem().Interface())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDatabaseSQLSuccessfulTranscodeEqFunc(t testing.TB, driverName, pgTypeName string, values []interface{}, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	conn := mustConnectDatabaseSQL(t, driverName)
+	defer mustClose(t, conn)
+
+	ps, err := conn.Prepare(fmt.Sprintf("select $1::%s", pgTypeName))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	for i, v := range values {
+		// Derefence value if it is a pointer
+		derefV := v
+		refVal := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+		if refVal.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+			derefV = refVal.Elem().Interface()
+		}
+
+		result := reflect.New(reflect.TypeOf(derefV))
+		err := ps.QueryRow(v).Scan(result.Interface())
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%v %d: %v", driverName, i, err)
+		}
+
+		if !eqFunc(result.Elem().Interface(), derefV) {
+			t.Errorf("%v %d: expected %v, got %v", driverName, i, derefV, result.Elem().Interface())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+type NormalizeTest struct {
+	SQL   string
+	Value interface{}
+}
+
+func TestSuccessfulNormalize(t testing.TB, tests []NormalizeTest) {
+	TestSuccessfulNormalizeEqFunc(t, tests, func(a, b interface{}) bool {
+		return reflect.DeepEqual(a, b)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuccessfulNormalizeEqFunc(t testing.TB, tests []NormalizeTest, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	TestPgxSuccessfulNormalizeEqFunc(t, tests, eqFunc)
+	for _, driverName := range []string{"github.com/lib/pq", "github.com/jackc/pgx/stdlib"} {
+		TestDatabaseSQLSuccessfulNormalizeEqFunc(t, driverName, tests, eqFunc)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPgxSuccessfulNormalizeEqFunc(t testing.TB, tests []NormalizeTest, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	conn := mustConnectPgx(t)
+	defer mustClose(t, conn)
+
+	formats := []struct {
+		name       string
+		formatCode int16
+	}{
+		{name: "TextFormat", formatCode: pgx.TextFormatCode},
+		{name: "BinaryFormat", formatCode: pgx.BinaryFormatCode},
+	}
+
+	for i, tt := range tests {
+		for _, fc := range formats {
+			psName := fmt.Sprintf("test%d", i)
+			ps, err := conn.Prepare(psName, tt.SQL)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+
+			ps.FieldDescriptions[0].FormatCode = fc.formatCode
+			if forceEncoder(tt.Value, fc.formatCode) == nil {
+				t.Logf("Skipping: %#v does not implement %v", tt.Value, fc.name)
+				continue
+			}
+			// Derefence value if it is a pointer
+			derefV := tt.Value
+			refVal := reflect.ValueOf(tt.Value)
+			if refVal.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+				derefV = refVal.Elem().Interface()
+			}
+
+			result := reflect.New(reflect.TypeOf(derefV))
+			err = conn.QueryRow(psName).Scan(result.Interface())
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("%v %d: %v", fc.name, i, err)
+			}
+
+			if !eqFunc(result.Elem().Interface(), derefV) {
+				t.Errorf("%v %d: expected %v, got %v", fc.name, i, derefV, result.Elem().Interface())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDatabaseSQLSuccessfulNormalizeEqFunc(t testing.TB, driverName string, tests []NormalizeTest, eqFunc func(a, b interface{}) bool) {
+	conn := mustConnectDatabaseSQL(t, driverName)
+	defer mustClose(t, conn)
+
+	for i, tt := range tests {
+		ps, err := conn.Prepare(tt.SQL)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%d. %v", i, err)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Derefence value if it is a pointer
+		derefV := tt.Value
+		refVal := reflect.ValueOf(tt.Value)
+		if refVal.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+			derefV = refVal.Elem().Interface()
+		}
+
+		result := reflect.New(reflect.TypeOf(derefV))
+		err = ps.QueryRow().Scan(result.Interface())
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%v %d: %v", driverName, i, err)
+		}
+
+		if !eqFunc(result.Elem().Interface(), derefV) {
+			t.Errorf("%v %d: expected %v, got %v", driverName, i, derefV, result.Elem().Interface())
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pgtype/text.go b/pgtype/text.go
index 62158b09..de80dd08 100644
--- a/pgtype/text.go
+++ b/pgtype/text.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func (src *Text) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/text_array.go b/pgtype/text_array.go
index 64728048..a6bd4724 100644
--- a/pgtype/text_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/text_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *TextArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/timestamp.go b/pgtype/timestamp.go
index 78c6355e..e7bc1c7d 100644
--- a/pgtype/timestamp.go
+++ b/pgtype/timestamp.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (src *Timestamp) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/timestamp_array.go b/pgtype/timestamp_array.go
index 5d08f9cc..2046c387 100644
--- a/pgtype/timestamp_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/timestamp_array.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func (src *TimestampArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/timestamptz.go b/pgtype/timestamptz.go
index 50370335..ef2d7498 100644
--- a/pgtype/timestamptz.go
+++ b/pgtype/timestamptz.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func (src *Timestamptz) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/timestamptz_array.go b/pgtype/timestamptz_array.go
index 107be06a..fd58d3be 100644
--- a/pgtype/timestamptz_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/timestamptz_array.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func (src *TimestamptzArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/typed_array.go.erb b/pgtype/typed_array.go.erb
index 4b8f1a28..2a38ed82 100644
--- a/pgtype/typed_array.go.erb
+++ b/pgtype/typed_array.go.erb
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func (src *<%= pgtype_array_type %>) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/uuid.go b/pgtype/uuid.go
index 111bed35..88d2195b 100644
--- a/pgtype/uuid.go
+++ b/pgtype/uuid.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func (src *Uuid) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot assign %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/pgtype/varchar_array.go b/pgtype/varchar_array.go
index 2712b4d2..9ca16d7e 100644
--- a/pgtype/varchar_array.go
+++ b/pgtype/varchar_array.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (src *VarcharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			}
 		}
 	case Null:
-		return nullAssignTo(dst)
+		return NullAssignTo(dst)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("cannot decode %v into %T", src, dst)
diff --git a/v3.md b/v3.md
index d9017890..2946bcf0 100644
--- a/v3.md
+++ b/v3.md
@@ -66,3 +66,5 @@ Keep ability to change logging while running
 consider test to ensure that AssignTo makes copy of reference types
 something like:
 select array[1,2,3], array[4,5,6,7]
+
+Reconsider synonym types like varchar/text and numeric/decimal.