Michigan and Newborn Screening
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Newborn screening (NBS) is a public health activity for early identification and follow-up of infants affected by certain genetic, metabolic, hormonal and/or functional conditions. Since the mid-1960s, the success of NBS programs has made screening routine for the millions of babies born each year in the United States. In 2002, about 3,300 newborns were found to have metabolic disorders and another 12,000 to 16,000 to have hearing impairment. Except for hearing, screening tests are done using a few drops of blood from the newborn’s heel, usually taken in the hospital 24 to 48 hours after birth.
The March of Dimes supports comprehensive NBS for every baby born in the U.S. and its territories for conditions that meet the following criteria:
- there is a documented benefit to the affected infant from early detection
- there is a reliable screening test that enables early detection from newborn blood spots or other means
The March of Dimes urges every state to provide screening for every newborn for at least the 29 disorders specified by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and to ensure reporting of 25 additional “report only” conditions. The March of Dimes urges states to provide information for parents about the availability and benefits of comprehensive NBS and encourages professional societies and government policy makers to work toward improved education of health professionals about NBS. In addition, the March of Dimes urges public and private entities to work together to strengthen NBS programs so that they include research, development, and validation of methods to detect and treat disorders, as well as prompt follow-up and counseling for affected families.
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Michigan Chapter Advocacy Newsletter
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