Newborn screening to be expanded in pilot study

The number of genetic diseases for which newborn babies are tested is to double in a pilot study by the Department of Health.

About 700,000 babies in the UK are tested for genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis every year.

Now an additional five debilitating disorders - all of them rare - will be tested for in five areas of England.

The chief medical officer for England said it would give more children the "chance to live a long, healthy life".

The tests are performed by a midwife and they generally take place within the first week of life. The baby's heel is pricked and drops of blood are collected and analysed in a laboratory.

This method of screening gives families access to specialist treatment and support from an early stage if there is a problem.

At the moment five conditions are tested for: sickle cell anaemia, which affects 350 babies a year; cystic fibrosis, which affects 250 babies a year and phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD).

The pilot scheme in Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London means 430,000 newborns a year will be also screened for:

• Maple syrup urine disease

• Homocystinuria

• Glutaric acidaemia type 1

• Isovaleric acidaemia

• Long chain fatty acidaemia

All affect about one in every 100,000 births - or about seven babies - a year.

The chief medical officer for England, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said: "This is a fantastic step forward for the newborn screening programme and shows the NHS at the cutting-edge.

"This pilot will identify more babies with serious conditions, giving them the chance to live a long, healthy life."

Dr Anne Mackie, the director of programmes for the UK National Screening Committee, said: "This pilot will gather evidence so we can understand whether offering tests for these conditions to a whole population is of overall benefit.

"The UK is a world leader in screening policy. We look forward to reviewing the findings of this study."

The trial will run for one year, starting in July.