Newborn hypothyroid screening. The private sector

Newborn hypothyroid screening in four private hospitals was prospectively evaluated and compared with a state screening program. During 1982 the hospitals screened a total of 10,786 infants compared with 47,525 by the state. Eight cases of primary hypothyroidism were confirmed by the state, for an incidence of one in 5,941. No cases were detected by the hospital programs. The cost for all infants screened in the private hospitals was 51.5 times more than the total cost of the state program, yet the state screened 4.4 times more infants.