Practices
Newborn Screening
Also Known As Neonatal Screening · Heel-prick Test · Guthrie Test
Screening Practice
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A population screening practice in which nearly all newborns are tested shortly after birth, typically on a few drops of blood taken by pricking the baby's heel, to detect inherited disorders before symptoms appear. Its public health value is early diagnosis: with early detection, treatment can begin right away, before serious problems occur or become permanent, whereas untreated conditions can cause lifelong health problems or early death. The practice began with Robert Guthrie's 1961 test for phenylketonuria, and in 1963 Massachusetts became the first US state to require PKU testing of all newborns; by 1967, 37 states had screening laws. The panel of conditions screened varies by jurisdiction.
Facts
Origin YearThe year Robert Guthrie developed the newborn phenylketonuria test; Massachusetts passed the first mandatory screening law in 1963. Practice ClassPreventive care, screening 2 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. NHGRI: 1961, First Screen for Metabolic Defect in Newborns
National Human Genome Research Institute1961 Guthrie accountQuote, 1961 Guthrie account
In 1961, Robert Guthrie, a doctor and bacterial scientist at the University of Buffalo Children's Hospital, developed a way to test whether newborn babies have phenylketonuria (PKU)
2. MedlinePlus: Newborn Screening
National Library of MedicineSummary sectionQuote, Summary section
If not treated, some of these conditions can cause lifelong health problems. Others can cause early death. With early diagnosis, treatment can begin right away, before serious problems can occur or become permanent.
2. MedlinePlus: Newborn Screening
National Library of MedicineSummary, heel prickQuote, Summary, heel prick
Tests on a few drops of blood from pricking the baby's heel. The tests look for inherited disorders.
2. MedlinePlus: Newborn Screening
National Library of MedicineIn Branch: Preventive Care, Summary, purposeView the Source 2. MedlinePlus: Newborn Screening
National Library of MedicineAssociated With: Health Screening Program, Summary, screening framingView the Source NICHD: PKU Research Contributions
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentMassachusetts 1963 lawQuote, Massachusetts 1963 law
In 1963, Massachusetts became the first state to pass a law requiring PKU testing for all newborns.
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