Affiliation:
1. University of Edinburgh Postgraduate MPH Student and Locum General Practitioner
Abstract
This article describes the neonatal or newborn blood spot screening programme (NBSSP) in the United Kingdom. Babies are screened for nine diseases at 5 days of age by a heel prick test. Although midwifes are the primary health practitioner involved in NBSSP, GPs may be consulted antenatally or postnatally for advice. GPs can aid informed decision making for parents concerned about genetic testing, discuss the implications of positive screening, and provide support for families with confirmed diagnoses. This review of the newborn blood spot test will discuss the programme, its limitations, ethical considerations and the diseases screened.
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences,General Environmental Science