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Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques
Published on: March 13, 2015
TSH assay using dried blood samples: a screening method for congenital hypothyroidism
A H Abdullah1, K Azad, N Nahar
1Deptt. of Paediatrics, BIRDEM, Dhaka.
Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin
|October 12, 2000
Summary
This study demonstrates that analyzing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels from newborn blood spots on filter paper is a reliable and cost-effective screening method. This technique was successfully implemented in Bangladesh for neonatal hypothyroidism screening.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal screening
- Endocrinology
- Public health
Background:
- Neonatal hypothyroidism can lead to irreversible developmental issues if not detected early.
- Early detection through screening programs is crucial for timely intervention and management.
- Filter paper blood spot analysis offers a practical approach for widespread neonatal screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of using filter paper blood spots for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) analysis in newborns.
- To establish a cost-effective and reliable method for neonatal screening for hypothyroidism in Bangladesh.
- To determine the TSH levels in a cohort of healthy newborns in Bangladesh.
Main Methods:
- Capillary blood samples were collected from 300 healthy, full-term newborns within 48-120 hours of delivery onto filter paper.
- Blood spots were analyzed for TSH levels using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA).
- The study included approximately 15% of deliveries over one year from two hospitals.
Main Results:
- TSH levels in the analyzed samples ranged from 0.6 to 19.3 microU/ml, with a mean (SD) of 7.19 (4.21) microU/ml.
- The immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) on dried filter paper blood spots proved technically feasible.
- This method was found to be cost-effective and reliable for a screening program.
Conclusions:
- TSH assay from dried filter paper blood spots is a technically possible, cost-effective, and reliable method for neonatal screening programs.
- This study successfully implemented this method for the first time in Bangladesh.
- The findings support the establishment of a national neonatal screening program for hypothyroidism in Bangladesh.
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