Out of 1346 newborns screened for congenital hypothyroidism, 31 non-hypothyroid infants were summoned because of a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level above 10 microU/ml. False-positive TSH levels were significantly more frequent in the babies treated with povidone-iodine (4.6%) than in those treated with either alcohol or triple dye (0.7%). CONCLUSION. Iodine containing solutions should be avoided in umbilical cord care of the newborn.