BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 4 MD-ACMG-baby-genetics
BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- September is National Newborn
Screening Awareness Month and the American College of Medical Genetics
(www.acmg.net) strongly advocates universal newborn screening for 29 treatable
conditions. In many of these diseases, serious complications such as death,
disability or mental retardation are avoidable only through newborn screening,
with appropriate follow-up and treatment.
"Newborn screening is a vital public health program. Through early
screening, diagnosis and treatment we can prevent the truly dire consequences
of a number of treatable conditions. With the current expansion of newborn
screening panels, it is estimated that about 10,000 of the 4.1 million babies
born each year in the United States will be identified with one of the
conditions for which treatment will have a significant impact on long-term
outcome," says Michael S. Watson, PhD, FACMG, executive director of the ACMG.
To help parents, ACMG has developed a brief list of questions that
expectant and new parents may want to ask their healthcare provider about
newborn screening in their state.
1. What conditions and disorders are tested in the newborn screening
program in our state?
2. How and when is the test performed?
3. How and when will I get the test results of my baby's screening panel?
4. Does a negative result mean my child is not at risk for that condition?
5. If my baby has a positive screening result, what are the recommended
next steps?
If a healthcare provider and family decide to consult a genetics
specialist, they can find a specially trained, board-certified genetics
professional such as a medical geneticist physician or genetic counselor on
the American College of Medical Genetics website at www.acmg.net which
includes a free online tool "Find a Geneticist."
"We need to make sure that every baby born in the United States has the
benefit of being tested for the expanded newborn screening panel," said R.
Rodney Howell, MD, FACMG, President of the American College of Medical
Genetics Foundation.
As an additional resource for medical professionals, the ACMG has
developed ACTion (ACT) sheets which describe the short term actions a health
professional should follow in communicating with a family and determining the
appropriate steps in the follow-up of the infant that has screened positive.
These are located at the ACMG homepage at www.acmg.net under ACMG ACT Sheets
and Confirmatory Algorithms on the homepage.
ACMG also commends the 2008 signing of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives
Act and applauds the work of the March of Dimes, Genetic Alliance, Hunter's
Hope Foundation and Save Babies Through Screening Foundation and the many
other organizations who work tirelessly to save and improve the lives of
children through newborn screening.
About the American College of Medical Genetics
Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics (www.acmg.net)
advances the practice of medical genetics by providing education, resources
and a voice for more than 1400 geneticists, genetic counselors and other
health care professionals committed to the practice of medical genetics.
Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG peer-reviewed
journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers a variety of resources including
Policy Statements, Practice Guidelines, Educational Resources, and a Medical
Geneticist Locator. The educational and public health programs of the American
College of Medical Genetics are dependent upon charitable gifts from
corporations, foundations, and individuals. The American College of Medical
Genetics Foundation is a 501 (3)(c) not-for-profit organization dedicated to
funding the College's diverse efforts.
SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics
