Celebrating Newborn Screening Awareness Month 2024

September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the vital role that early diagnostic tests play.

Newborn screening is performed in the first few days of life. This process involves simple tests that can detect genetic, hormonal, and metabolic disorders that might not be apparent at birth. Early detection through these screenings can lead to interventions that prevent severe health problems, developmental delays, and even death.

The primary goal of newborn screening is to identify infants who may have certain conditions that are treatable, but not immediately obvious. These conditions include, but are not limited to, congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell disease, and phenylketonuria (PKU). Early detection through newborn screening allows for immediate treatment and management, which can significantly alter the course of a child’s life by reducing morbidity and mortality.

Over the years, the scope of newborn screening has expanded tremendously, thanks to advances in medical technology and increased awareness. Improvements in screening technologies and methodologies have enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of these tests.

Newborn screening is a topic that many new parents know little about until they are directly involved in the process. Newborn Screening Awareness Month serves as a perfect platform to educate parents, healthcare providers, and the public about the benefits and necessity of these screenings.

Browse all CLSI's newborn screening resources here, including CLSI NBS02
Newborn Screening Follow-up and Education, 3rd Edition, or recently published CLSI NBS10 | Newborn Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism, 1st Edition.