The National Newborn Screening Week is celebrated annually every first week of October, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 540. This event is commemorated to draw the public’s attention to the vital role of Newborn Screening (NBS) in the early detection and management of several congenital disorders, in which if left untreated may result to mental retardation, or worst, death.
Since 1996, NBS has been an integral part of routine newborn care in the Philippines. The Newborn Screening program in the Philippines originally only includes screening of six disorders namely: congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), phenylketonuria (PKU), glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), and galactosemia (GAL).
Pursuant to the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 2014-0045, the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System (NCNSS) has expanded the screening panel of disorders from six (6) to twenty-eight (28) more disorders.
Enumerated below are the genetic disorders included in the Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS):
- Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency
- Congenital Hypothyroidism
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Galactosemia
- Phenylketonuria
- Maple Syrup Urine Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Biotinidase Deficiency
- Organic Acid Disorders
- Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders
- Amino Acid Disorders
- Urea Cycle Disorders
- Hemoglobin Disorders
The ENBS can be accessed in hospitals, lying-ins, rural health units, health centers and some private clinics. Screening is ideally done immediately after 24 hours from birth of the baby. A physician, nurse, medical technologist or a trained midwife may do the screening. The screening is done by extracting a few drops of blood from the baby’s heel. The extracted blood is then blotted in a special absorbent filter card which will then be sent to the Newborn Screening Center (NSC) for processing.
The ENBS results can be claimed from the health facility where it was availed. If the screening results are normal, it is available by 7 to 14 working days from the time samples are received at the NSC. The results are normal when it comes out as a “Negative Screen”. On the other hand, if the results come out as a “Positive Screen” the newborn must be brought back to his or her health practitioner for further testing. A confirmatory test must then be done by a specialist for further management.
Most, if not all the babies with metabolic disorders may look normal at birth that is why Newborn Screening is essential, to detect metabolic disorders early on and to manage it before it gets worse. Having said that, parents must take their baby on his or her first test; to not only put your minds at ease but also to give him or her the best quality of life. (NO I Liezel Joy D. Reyes)
References:
Department of Health. (11 August 2020). Newborn Screening Program. Retrieved on 04 October 2021 from https://doh.gov.ph/newborn-screening
Institute of Human Genetics. (2016). Newborn Screening Center-NH. Retrieved on 04 October 2021 from https://ihg.upm.edu.ph/node/15
Kids Health.Org. (July 2019). Newborn Screening Tests. Retrieved on 04 October 2021 from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/newborn-screening-tests.html
Newborn Screening Research Center. (n.d.) Newborn Screening Week. Retrieved on 04 October 2021 from https://www.newbornscreening.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174%3Anewborn-screening-week&Itemid=57#:~:text=Presidential%20Proclamation%20No.,National%20Newborn%20Screening%20Awareness%20Week.
PhilHealth. (14 December 2018). Enhancement of PhilHealth Newborn Care Package. Retrieved on 04 October 2021 from https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/circulars/2018/circ2018-0021.pdf
