Health Department Will Screen Infants for Genetic Disorders
Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 03:03 CST
By Jen McCaffery jen.mccaffery@roanoke.com 981-3336
The Virginia Department of Health will screen newborns for more genetic disorders.
As a result of legislation from the 2005 General Assembly session, the Department of Health will test drops of babies' blood for 28 genetic disorders within a few days of birth.
Before the policy was enacted Wednesday, infants in Virginia were tested for 11 genetic conditions, including sickle cell anemia and hypothyroidism.
Now, babies will also be tested for 17 other conditions, including cystic fibrosis, which can cause respiratory failure.
The legislation was spurred by recommendations from the federal Human Resources and Services Administration, which is seeking uniformity nationwide in the screening of infants for genetic disorders, according to Sharon Williams, manager of the genetic program at the Virginia Department of Health.
Some of the conditions are caused by a chemical imbalance, while children inherit some of the other disorders from their parents.
The Department of Health provides test results to the newborn's doctor, clinic or hospital. Parents are generally only informed of the results if there is a problem.
In 2004, 129 children were diagnosed with a genetic disorder through Virginia's newborn screening program.
Source: Roanoke Times & World News
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