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The Importance of Screening
Home » Babies » Newborn Screening Tests » The Importance of ScreeningNewborn screening tests are very important for newborns as parents can pass along the gene for a particular disorder and be unaware that they are even carriers of the disorder. Metabolic and other inherited disorders can encumber the child's natural physical and mental development in a range of different ways. A simple blood test obtained for laboratory analysis can make a huge difference in the life of the newborn as the doctor can often determine whether the infant has particular conditions that could lead to specific disorders. Excluding the hearing screening which places a soft earphone or microphone in the newborn's ear, every other newborn screening test is administered by using a few drops of blood from the infant's heel before the baby leaves the hospital. Most babies are given a clean bill of health after they have been tested. However, in 2002, nearly 3,300 newborns were diagnosed as having metabolic disorders and still 12,000 to 16,000 were diagnosed with a hearing impairment. In these instances, early detection and adequate treatment can be the deciding factor between healthy development and lifelong impairment.
Related Newborn Screening Tests Articles
- Newborn Screening Tests Overview
- The Importance of Screening
- Getting Back the Results
- Particular Disorders Screened For
- Repeat Testing
- Final Thoughts