Newborn Screening: Ensuring a Healthy Start for Every Child
Newborn screening is a vital public health practice aimed at identifying certain genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and functional disorders in infants shortly after birth. The primary goal of this early detection process is to prevent severe health problems, including developmental delays, lifelong disabilities, or even death, by initiating timely treatment. Across the world, newborn screening has become a cornerstone of preventive healthcare, ensuring that babies receive the best start in life.
The process usually begins within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. A few drops of blood are collected from the baby’s heel onto a special filter paper, commonly known as a heel-prick test. These blood samples are then analyzed for a range of conditions, such as phenylketonuria (PKU), congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and other metabolic disorders. Some regions may also include hearing tests or pulse oximetry…