CDC’s Laboratory Activities to Support Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was added to the HHS Secretary’s Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborn screening (NBS) in 2018, enabling early diagnosis and treatment of impacted infants to prevent irreversible motor neuron damage. In anticipation of supporting SMA newborn screening, scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have worked towards building resources for public health laboratories in four phases since 2013. In Phase 1, CDC established a real-time PCR assay, which uses a locked nucleic acid probe to attain the needed specificity, to detect SMN1 exon 7. In Phase 2, we developed quality assurance dried blood spot materials made with transduced lymphoblast cell lines established from de-identified SMA patients, carriers, and unaffected donors. In 2021, CDC implemented Phase 3, a proficiency testing program, that now supports 115 NBS labs around the world. We are currently completing Phase 4, which includes the implementation of an external SMA quality control material program. Also, during this time, CDC has provided individual technical assistance to NBS programs and bench training to NBS scientists during our annual molecular workshop. These CDC-led activities have contributed to the rapid and full implementation of SMA screening in all 50 U.S. states as of February 2024.