Newborn Screening Program
General Information
New Information and Updates
New Information
and Updates
Health Provider Information
Health Provider
Information
Contact Us
Contact Us
- Mailing Address:
Newborn Screening Program
NYS Department of Health
Wadsworth Center
Empire State Plaza
P.O. Box 509
Albany, NY 12201-0509 - Phone: (518) 473-7552
- Email: nbsinfo@health.state.ny.us
History
The concept of newborn screening began in Buffalo, New York in 1960 with the work of Robert Guthrie, M.D., Ph.D. Now, all 50 states have newborn screening programs. New York's began in 1965 and tests for more disorders than many other states. Since the program began, more than ten million babies have been tested and more than 20,500 cases have been identified.
New York State's law for newborn screening, Public Health Law 2500-a originally required testing for only one genetic disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU), a metabolic disorder which, if left untreated, can cause brain damage. Today newborns are tested for more than 40 inherited metabolic conditions, congenital hypothyroidism, and hemoglobinopathies including sickle cell disease. In 1996, the Public Health Law was amended to require that all newborns also be tested for HIV.