Analysis of failures of screening for congenital hypothyroidism by the assay of TSH in capillary blood

Screening for congenital hypothyroidism was started in France in 1979. The system was rapidly extended to the whole country and works very efficiently. The number of children who escaped the system is very small. However, these children represent a severe failure of the system. From 1980 to 1983, 32 cases escaped the screening. Retrospective analysis of these cases should help in improving the present system.