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A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (August 13) that the test result for the remaining blood sample of an infant aged one to eight months who has been taking infant milk formula with low iodine content was found normal.
The latest result took the total number of blood samples for thyroid function tests to 99, of which 98 were normal while one revealed that the thyroid-stimulating hormone level was slightly below the reference range. According to specialists of the Hospital Authority (HA), this result is not due to iodine deficiency. The infant concerned has been referred to the paediatric specialist clinic of the HA for follow-up.
The spokesman said that in view of the relatively low utilisation rate of the blood taking service at the 10 designated Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) in the past few days, and the fact that only one infant had blood taken yesterday for thyroid function testing, the DH's blood taking service would be adjusted.
"With effect from today, if parents wish to have the blood test for their babies aged one to eight months who have been taking infant milk formulae with low iodine content, they can register with any MCHC in person during office hours. Blood taking arrangements will be made within three working days."
Meanwhile, up to noon today, the DH hotline (2125 1111), operating from 9am to 9pm daily, had received 3,926 enquiries from members of the public.
One hundred and fifty-four callers said that their infants were mainly consuming the infant formulae concerned. They have been advised to change to another brand of cow milk-based formula with adequate iodine content.
Updated information will be uploaded to the DH's website (www.dh.gov.hk) for public reference.
Ends/Monday, August 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:10
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