"Hook-like effect" causes false-negative point-of-care urine pregnancy testing in emergency patients.

Background: Failure to detect pregnancy in the emergency department (ED) can have important consequences. Urine human chorionic gonadotropin (uhCG) point-of-care (POC) assays are valued for rapidly detecting early pregnancy with high sensitivity. However, under certain conditions, POC uhCG tests can fail to detect pregnancy.

Evidence of endemic goiter and iodine deficiency in a mountainous area of Haiti.

Objective: To investigate reports of iodine-deficiency disorder in a specific area of Haiti.

Methods: In March 2008, this cross-sectional study was performed in an area 15 miles northeast of Jacmel, Haiti, within the Chaîne de la Selle Mountains. Before arrival of the study team, an announcement was made throughout local villages soliciting volunteers to meet at a central location.