Newborn Screening: Improving Outcomes

In the last five decades, newborn screening has become a well-defined, nationwide prevention program. Each year, more than 4 million newborns in the United States are screened for hearing loss and certain genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. Through early identification and treatment, newborn screening provides an opportunity for significant reductions in morbidity and mortality while reducing health care costs associated with treatment of lifelong debilitating conditions. Technological improvements and partner collaboration have led to the expansion and increased uniformity of screening as well as enhanced laboratory and data systems that provide better surveillance, tracking, and research.

Although newborn screening has improved and expanded in recent years, particular challenges remain with laboratory and data collection issues. Many state laboratories are being asked to do more screening with fewer resources, providing a need for innovation in areas such as automation, multiplex and molecular testing, and quality assurance. Improvements are also needed in data systems to track follow-up and management of children with disorders identified through newborn screening.

This session of CDC’s Public Health Grand Rounds addressed these challenges while discussed effective strategies to meet the promise that newborn screening holds for all children.

Presented By

R. Rodney Howell, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami
Senior Advisor to the Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development,
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland
Presentation – Current Practices and Expansion of Newborn Screening

Sharon Terry, MA
President and Chief Executive Officer, Genetic Alliance
Presentation – Family Experiences with Disorders and Screening

Carla D. Cuthbert, PhD
Chief, Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch,
Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC
Presentation – Laboratory Matters in NBS

Scott D. Grosse, PhD
Associate Director, Health Services Research and Evaluation,
Division of Blood Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and
Developmental Disabilities, CDC
Presentation – NBS: Health Impact and Return on Investment

V. Fan Tait, MD, FAAP
Associate Executive Director, American Academy of Pediatrics
Presentation – Closing Gaps and Improving Outcomes after NBS through National Partnerships

Facilitated By

Tanja Popovic, M.D., Ph.D., Scientific Director, Public Health Grand Rounds
Shane Joiner, Communication Manager, Public Health Grand Rounds