What is newborn screening?

Also known as newborn screening is a collective process of testing newborns for various types of diseases. The scope of screening deals with a wide range of conditions, including hematological, metabolic, endocrinological and genetic diseases. Over the years, the types of screening tests used in this type of health care of newborns have expanded significantly, with a certain scattering in how medical systems in different countries approach this form of neonatal care.

Depending on the established requirements in a given nation, the process of neonatal screening may be compulsory. This means that tests are performed as a routine. The idea of ​​screening is to identify any potential health problems that would significantly affect the health of the newborn, and allow the administration of appropriate treatment immediately. This helps to avoid possible delay in diagnosing serious health and at the same time increases Chance that it is able to successfully treat the disease before it has a chance to proceed.

The first mandatory neonatal screening in the United States has begun in the decade of the 1960s. This test, known as the Guthrie Test, has been designed to detect the presence of phenylketonuria in children. Over the years, additional tests have been added to the list, including tests for the presence of sickness cells, hypothyroidism and hyperplasia. Testing of vision, hearing sharpness and the general series of newborn movement is also part of the basic newborn screening in the US.

While many countries have national regulations that will launch the foundations for newborn screening, it is not uncommon for health organizations at the state level level to supervise the process of screening in healthcare facilities in their jurisdictions. Local laws also sometimes order precise procedures for collecting samples and send them to approved laboratories for evaluation. This helps to ensure that the quality of testing is uniform and thatSelectors of different tests can be considered reliable.

Not all countries are involved in neonatal screening, but the interest in starting this type of newborn has continued to grow since the beginning of the 21st century. Some countries currently have optional screening programs, while others are aimed at compulsory screening at specific health problems at a certain point in the first six months of the child's life. As medical research continues to develop newer and more efficient ways of detecting various diseases in their early stages, it is very likely that newborn screening will be more common around the world.