Two years' experience with an enhanced chemiluminescent assay for neonatal blood spot TSH.
We have developed a blood spot assay for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) based on the Amerlite TSH-30 serum assay for use in the Welsh neonatal hypothyroid screening programme. A total of 67,656 infants were screened in 1994 and 1995, and 28 cases of primary hypothyroidism were detected, giving a prevalence of one in 2416. The method is sensitive and rapid, results being available within 3 h of receipt of samples. The assay enables much faster detection of primary hypothyroidism than was previously possible, and therefore contributes to earlier treatment of affected infants.
John
R
R
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University Hospital of Wales, Healthcare NHS Trust, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
Henley
R
R
Oversby
N
N
D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011786:Quality Control; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014852:Wales
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013972:Thyrotropin