Health
States expand newborn screening
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 1, 2005
As of June 1, 23 states had expanded their newborn screening programs to include more than 20 of 29 disorders recommended in the 2005 report by the American College of Medical Genetics, according to a new report by the March of Dimes.
The group recommends that all babies be screened for the 29 disorders that include metabolic conditions and hearing deficiency. "Parents need to know that the extent of newborn screening for serious and treatable disorders depends entirely on the state in which their baby is born," said Jennifer L. Howse, PhD, president of the March of Dimes. "For infants affected with these conditions, the tests can mean the difference between life and death, or health and lifelong disability."
A brochure, "Newborn Screening," contains a list of the 29 disorders and other information and can be ordered from the March of Dimes' Web site (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/08/01/hlbf0801.htm.
