Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) Test

This is test done on newborns to check whether thyroid production is adequate or not. It's a relatively new test, which if done on time can help in prevention of mental retardation in the newborn. Most children born with this problem look normal and hence this test helps in catching a serious problem. Most cases of congenital hypothyroidism are caused when thyroid gland is missing, misplaced or small in size.

The newborn needs to be present in the hospital. It can't be done on the day of birth or basically till upto 48 hours of birth as the results won't be accurate. Ideally it should be done between 3 to 7 days of birth. Small blood sample is required for the same. The child should be wearing loose fitting clothes which can be opened easily and the mother should be nearby to sooth the child.

The result if positive then medication needs to be started right away. As low production of thyroid hormone in the body can lead to lethargy, slow growth and learning impediments. To confirm congenital hypothyroidism the practitioner will order further testing. The medication needs to be taken by the child life long to manage thyroid as it can be controlled but not cured.

The blood sample is usually taken by pricking the baby’s ankle. Incase, the result is inconclusive, due to less blood taken or sample collected before 48 hours, the procedure needs to be repeated. The person taking the sample has to be a trained nurse or lab assistant, as it involves a newborn baby.