Washington Newborn Screening Information

Washington

Disorders Screened in Washington

Washington State does NOT provide the full panel of screenings recommended by Save Babies Through Screening Foundation. Parents should seek supplemental screening for the disorders and conditions not included in the state's panel.

The disorders that are screened, or likely to be detected, by your state's program are identified by the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center in simplified format or in PDF format.

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General Information

On March 15, 2006, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) was added to the state of Washington's screening panel.

Background: On May 8, 2002, the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee made its final recommendation to the Board of Health that five disorders, and screening for hearing loss, be added to the state's newborn screening program: Galactosemia, Biotinidase Deficiency, Homocystinuria, Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), and Medium Chain Acyl-Co A Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD).

On October 15, 2003, the Washington State Board of Health adopted revisions to the state's newborn screening regulations following a public hearing in Yakima, WA. The revisions added the five disorders detectable through dried blood spot screening that were recommended by the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee. (Screening for hearing loss was not added but the DOH was requested to encourage and assist hospitals in adopting universal hearing screening, with progress reports to be given in spring, 2004.)

Effective January, 2004, the DOH was required to begin implementing screening for the additional disorders and complete implementation as quickly as feasible and no later than June, 2004. Other revisions added the Department's policies on storage and access to leftover specimens to the regulations. They also agreed to consider reconvening an advisory committee in the near future to evaluate current information on newborn screening for cystic fibrosis, early hearing loss, and other disorders.

On June 1, 2004 , Washington State added Homocystinuria ( HCys ), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), and Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD) to the routine screening panel. The Mayor's Metabolic Advisory Board is empowered to make recommendations to the Mayor regarding newborn screening policies.

Newborn Screening Advisory Committee

The state of Washington has a Newborn Screening Advisory Committee (NBSAC). This committee was set up in 2001, and its first meeting was in August, 2001. The committee consists of 18 members including four families representing Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD), and Phenylketonuria (PKU). In addition, the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation State Monitor, Peggy Harris, is a member of this committee on behalf of SBTS Foundation.

Washington NBSAC Co-Chairpersons

Maxine Hayes, MD, MPH
State Health Officer, Washington State Department of Health

Tom Locke, MD, MPH
Washington State Board of Health

NBSAC Meeting Dates:

Not reported at this time.

Location of Meetings:

State Public Health Laboratory
1610 NE 150 Street
Shoreline, WA 98155

More Information and Support Resources

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Revised 6/24/2006