MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews) – September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of early testing for conditions that may not be visible at birth but could have serious health impacts if left untreated.
Newborn screening is a public health program that checks for genetic, metabolic and other congenital disorders. In Alabama, about 200 babies are identified each year with conditions detected through newborn screening.
Early testing allows doctors to begin treatment within weeks of birth, preventing or reducing complications from conditions such as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis.
The Alabama newborn screening panel includes a dried bloodspot test (heelstick), hearing screening and pulse oximetry, which helps detect critical congenital heart disease. Alabama currently screens for 35 of the 38 disorders recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Health officials stress that newborns should be screened between 24 and 48 hours of age, and parents should provide the hospital with their baby’s doctor for proper follow-up. Parents are also encouraged to ask about results at their baby’s first doctor’s visit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls newborn screening one of the nation’s top public health achievements. The program continues to expand as new disorders are added to the national panel.
In Alabama, the Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Clinical Laboratories and Bureau of Family Health Services work together to provide screening, follow-up, and education for families.
For more information, visit the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Newborn Screening website.
