RALEIGH — Babies born in North Carolina will now be screened for two additional disorders, along with the other disorders screened for by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Newborn Screening Program.
Newborns will now be screened for Infantile Krabbe Disease and Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase Deficiency. This comes as NCDHHS celebrates the 60th anniversary of the state’s Newborn Screening Program this September during National Newborn Screening Awareness Month.
“North Carolina’s Newborn Screening Program has helped generations of families by ensuring babies receive timely, lifesaving testing in their first days of life,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “For 60 years, this work has given providers the information they need to act quickly so children have the healthiest start possible, and we’re excited to further expand our screening panel to save even more lives.”
Newborn screening is critical for early detection and treatment of many rare, severe and treatable disorders before symptoms appear. Nearly 120,000 babies are born each year in North Carolina, and each year, more than 250 babies in North Carolina are identified with metabolic, endocrine, hemoglobin, and other disorders through newborn screening. Studies have shown the importance of early identification and treatment, which can be lifesaving for the most severe cases. This important public health service provides newborns and their families with an opportunity for better outcomes and an improved quality of life.
Before leaving the hospital, a few drops of the baby’s blood are collected via heel-prick on a special filter paper card and sent to the State Laboratory of Public Health. From there, public health laboratory staff perform multiple screening tests to check for serious health problems that may not be known at birth. This early detection ensures babies will be connected with follow-up services and have a healthier start in life.
“During this milestone celebration, we recognize the many staff who support this work every day, as well as the families whose lives are impacted by the Newborn Screening Program,” said Dr. Scott Shone, state lab director at the NCDHHS Division of Public Health. “Early detection saves lives, and newborn screening remains one of our most important tools for protecting infant health. This anniversary highlights the dedication of our public health teams and partners who work around the clock to support families and deliver reliable, high-quality testing for every newborn in the state.”
The North Carolina Newborn Screening Program continues to enhance its services through ongoing expansion of the condition panel. The addition of GAMT deficiency and Infantile Krabbe Disease to the state’s newborn screening panel brings the total to seven new conditions added in the past six years. GAMT deficiency is a metabolic disorder that primarily affects the muscles, brain, and nervous system. Infantile Krabbe disease primarily affects the nervous system. If left untreated, these conditions can cause serious health problems, but early identification and treatment can help improve health outcomes.
To learn more about the NCDHHS Newborn Screening Program, visit the NC State Laboratory of Public Health webpage. Additional Newborn Screening resources are available on the NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being webpage. Learn more about the daily work of the program on the Newborn Screening Laboratories webpage.
