Interesting Facts About Newborn Screening

We had another Consumer Task Force Call this week.  I love learning about the newborn screening system that saved my baby's life.  Here are some interesting facts that I wanted to pass on...

• Over 4.2 million infants are screened each year, making newborn screening the most commonly performed genetic testing in the United States.
• The Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) included 29 core conditions when it was first recommended by a group of experts in December 2002.  All of these conditions have the potential to result in serious medical complications and/or death if not recognized early and all children benefit from treatment once the conditions are detected.
• By February 2005, the RUSP became national policy and by December 2008, nearly all states were screening for many of these core conditions.  To see which conditions are screened for in your state, visit Baby's First Test!