Frequently Asked Questions

1.) What is CDC's Newborn Screening Laboratory Bulletin?

The Newborn Screening Laboratory Bulletin is a first-of-its-kind publication that provides both scientific and narrative information about newborn screening. The goal of the bulletin is to heighten awareness about the critical importance of newborn screening and to highlight CDC's laboratory role in newborn screening worldwide.

2.) What information does the bulletin provide?

The bulletin provides an overview of newborn screening, information about CDC's laboratory role (including specifics about CDC's quality assurance programs and research initiatives), comments about future directions for newborn screening, and recommended readings. In addition to scientific information (e.g., statistics on the growth and development of CDC's Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) and a snapshot of some of the processes involved in newborn screening), the bulletin also provide poignant stories of families and children who have been affected by newborn screening practices in the United States.

3.) What federal agencies are involved in newborn screening-related activities?

CDC's Division of Laboratory Sciences operates the Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) and the Newborn Screening Translation Research Initiative (NSTRI) (in collaboration with the CDC Foundation). CDC's National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) provides information on newborn screening and related conditions.

The Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) supports newborn screening and increases professional and public knowledge of how genetic diseases affect health through numerous programs such as the Genetics and Newborn Screening Regional Collaborative Groups (RCs) and the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center (NNSGRC) among others. MCHB also houses the Discretionary Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are also involved in newborn screening-related research.

4.) How can people find out more about newborn screening in their states?

To find out more about newborn screening activities in your state, contact your state or local health department. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)* has a list of state health departments and contact information on its web site.

The National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center (NNSGRC) lists conditions screened by U.S. programs on its web site.

5.) Will CDC publish future editions of the bulletin?

CDC intends to publish subsequent editions of the bulletin that may include updated information on

• the number of labs participating in CDC's Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program,
• the number of disorders for which CDC can assist state laboratories, and
• specific newborn screening pilot projects that CDC is collaborating on and/or supporting.

A specific release date for the next edition has not yet been determined.

6.) How can I get a copy of the bulletin?

You can view or download the entire bulletin at www.cdc.gov/nbslabbulletin. To receive a printed copy of the bulletin, contact CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or Contact CDC-INFO.

* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.