Table 2

 The number of live births, Guthrie tests carried out, infants with true (definite and probable) congenital hypothyroidism or transient TSH elevation, and incidence of true congenital hypothyroidism by year is given for period 1 and period 2

YearTotal live birthsNo of testsNo with true CHNo with transient TSH elevationIncidence of true CH
*Assay problems related to change in TSH antibody used resulted in an increase in the number of babies with a raised TSH on screening that could not be substantiated on confirmatory venous testing.
CH, congenital hypothyroidism; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.
Period 1
197968 33610 03650
198068 89268 7841301:5299
198169 05469 5721801:3836
198266 19666 8641221:5516
198365 07865 1372131:3098
198465 10665 8431581:4340
198566 67667 3381718*1:3922
198665 81266 187911*1:7312
198766 24167 2041951:3486
198866 21266 97521101:3152
198963 48063 8272271:2885
199065 97366 76521101:3141
199167 02467 3741431:4787
199265 78966 2251051:6578
199363 33763 7991741:3726
Mean incidence of congenital hypothyroidism 1:4363 live births
Period 2
199461 65663 4791441:4404
199560 05161 5961321:4619
199659 29660 8591311:4561
199759 44061 4071841:3302
199857 31959 3151941:3017
199955 14756 4201331:4242
200053 07654 4901551:3538
200152 52753 1711731:3089
200251 27052 8861961:2698
200352 43254 4731771:3084
Mean incidence of congenital hypothyroidism 1:3655 live births