Many of us are familiar with the newborn blood spot screening test. This screening test has been performed since the 1960s in the US to detect a disorder called phenylketonuria (also known as PKU). Today, many countries have adopted their own newborn screening programs; some test for a number of conditions, while others keep the list much shorter. Regardless of the approach, newborn screening has saved many lives and continues to do so today.
In this gallery, we delve into the history of newborn screening, its developments, and some of the common disorders newborns are screened for. Click on to learn more.