Audit of newborn screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism.
Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was implemented in Hospital UKM in December 2004 using cord blood sample. From the audit over a period of 25 months, a total of 13,875 newborn babies were screened with a coverage of 98.8%. From this cohort, the mean recall rate was 0.32%; unfortunately the mean percentage of recalled babies that came for retesting was only 79.5%. In addition, the mean sample rejection rate was high, i.e. 2.2%. Two babies were diagnosed to have CH. These findings implied that whilst the coverage of screening was good, there is a need for regular surveillance of performance of both clinical and laboratory personnel. In addition, a more concerted effort should be carried out to promote community awareness of such a programme.
Zarina
A L
AL
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. zarinaal@mail.hukm.ukm.my
Rahmah
R
R
Bador
K M
KM
Ng
S F
SF
Wu
L L
LL
D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008485:Medical Audit; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine