Today, all 50 states; Washington, DC; and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have newborn screening programs, and nearly every child born in the United States or Puerto Rico is screened shortly after birth.1
- Newborn screening is required in 48 states, with all but four of these states allowing parents to opt out for religious or other reasons.2
- Baby’s First Test (www.babysfirsttest.org), the central online newborn screening clearinghouse estimates that more than 4 million infants are screened each year in the United States.3
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Most states report participation of 99.9% or higher. For example:
- Maryland reported that during the last several years, fewer than five families opted out of newborn screening each year, although there were approximately 75,000 births annually.2
- In Wyoming, there were 6,800 infants born in 2007, but only two families opted out of screening.2
Disorders Identified
- Baby’s First Test estimates that newborn screening detects a treatable condition in 1 of every 300 infants screened.4
- The March of Dimes estimates that because of newborn screening, each year in the United States approximately 5,000 infants are identified with a serious condition, and about 12,000 are found to have a hearing impairment.5 Early diagnosis and treatment in many cases can significantly improve the chances of healthy development and positive outcomes.
- Baby’s First Test. Conditions Screened by State. Retrieved August 23, 2012, from http://www.babysfirsttest.org/newborn-screening/states [top]
- President’s Council on Bioethics. (2008). The changing moral focus of newborn screening: An ethical analysis by the President’s Council on Bioethics. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved May 14, 2012, from http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/pcbe/reports/newborn_screening/chapter4.html [top]
- Baby’s First Test. Program information. Retrieved May 14, 2012, from www.babysfirsttest.org/program-information [top]
- Baby’s First Test. Newborn screening: The facts. Retrieved May 14, 2012, from www.babysfirsttest.org [top]
- March of Dimes. (2011). Newborn screening tests. Retrieved May 14, 2012, from www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/bringinghome_screening.html [top]