DESCRIPTION This is the 2008 update of the 2001 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation on universal newborn hearing screening. METHODS The US Preventive Services Task Force weighed the benefits and harms of universal newborn hearing screening, incorporating new evidence addressing gaps identified in the 2001 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Published liter...

Newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) started with Robert Guthrie (1916–1995) who developed the bacterial inhibition test for the semiquantitative analysis of phenylalanine, which was the first test suitable for high throughput analysis. In addition, he introduced the ‘Guthrie filter card’ as a transport medium for dried blood which is still used today. Realizing the potential of his appr...

Newborn screening is the largest genetic screening program in the United States with approximately four million newborns screened yearly. It has been available and in continuous development for more than 50 years. Each state manages, funds, and maintains its own individual program, which encompasses newborn screening as well as the diagnosis and coordination of care for affected infants and chi...

September is newborn screening awareness month. Since 1963, state public health programs have screened newborns for a number of life-altering health conditions. Many of these disorders are rare and genetic, and if caught in the first weeks of life they can be treated or managed to prevent death or a lifetime of disability. Early detection can also help families avoid the lengthy and stressful ‘...

Shandong is a large province in northeastern China with a population of over 80 million. There are over 800,000 births annually with newborn screening testing currently being performed in 15 laboratories in city maternity and child health care hospitals. Since 1996, the number of newborns screened has steadily increased until the number screened annually now exceeds 600,000 (over 70%). During t...