title: Current use of the TORCH screen in the diagnosis of congenital infection.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the number of congenital infections detected in Dublin with the current use of the TORCH screen. A review of all laboratory results was undertaken with subsequent review of relevant medical charts. A total of nine cases were documented in a 5-year period from January 1991 to December 1995. Six of these had already been suspected. There was a failure to follow up 47% of positive screens. TORCH screening in Ireland has an unacceptably low yield, and in the opinion of the authors should be abolished.
authors.affiliation: The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cafferkey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012410:Rubella Syndrome, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*