New research for genetic testing in babies

LONDON, UK.- Newborn babies are tested for dozens of genetic disorders but researchers are expanding screening to look for more than 200 rare conditions. They’re hoping to speed up diagnosis and treatment.

Newborn genetic testing, also known as newborn screening, is a mandatory public health service in the United States that detects genetic disorders in newborns. Now, scientists are working across the seas to try to make the process a bit easier for the baby. There’s also a focus on the importance of early detection. Researchers say that early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the effects of a condition and prevent serious health problems.

While newborn screening is a success, there are some limitations to the tests:

• Some rare conditions may not be included in the testing.
• Tests for rare conditions may produce false positives more often than true positives.
• A test result may indicate an abnormality that’s only present in the placenta and not the fetus

To learn more about the strides made in the research of newborn genetic testing, you can click right here. 

To learn about what our state offers for newborn testing, you can click right here.