April 2009: Volume 35, Number 4
U.S. Newborn Screening Nearly Universal
A new report issued by the March of Dimes is applauding recent public health advances that have made newborn screening for many life-threatening disorders mandatory for all babies born in the U.S., regardless of where they are born. All 50 states and the District of Columbia now require that every baby be screened for 21 or more of the 29 serious genetic or functional disorders on the uniform panel recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and endorsed by the March of Dimes. Recent advances in tandem mass spectrometry have allowed these disorders to be detected using only a few drops of blood.
These advances are part of an ongoing advocacy effort by March of Dimes to increase awareness for additional screening of newborns. In 2000, March of Dimes recommended more comprehensive screening in every state at a time when most states only screened for four conditions. In 2005, the ACMG recommended mandatory screening for 29 disorders, the same year that March of Dimes reported that only 38% of infants were born in states requiring screening for 21 or more of the 29 conditions recommended for screening by ACMG. Today, nearly all babies born in the U.S. live in states that require screening for at least 21 of these treatable disorders. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia require screening for all 29 disorders, with more states expected to join this year. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia currently screen for 26 or more of these conditions. A positive result does not always mean the infant has a disorder, but additional testing is required to confirm a diagnosis.
March of Dimes will continue to promote the adoption of consistent guidelines nationwide and advocate for funding of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (P.L. 110-204). This legislation aims to improve state newborn screening programs by educating families and providing additional funding for follow-up treatments for infants who test positive for disorders indentified through screening.
Additional information can be found at the March of Dimes website.
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