R.I. achieves 100% newborn screening

By Richard Asinof
Contributing Writer
Twitter: @RichardAsinof

PROVIDENCE – One-hundred percent of all 11,653 Rhode Island infants born in 2011 received a newborn blood-spot screening, the R.I. Department of Health announced on Jan. 30.

Newborn screening aims to identify and treat conditions as early as possible to prevent death or disability. Rhode Island law requires birthing hospitals to screen newborns for 28 conditions, all of which are recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics.

“Newborn screening involves a simple blood test used to identify many life-threatening illnesses before any symptoms begin,” said Dr. Michael Fine, director of the R.I. Department of Health. “Rhode Island could not have reached such a perfect rate of screening without the help of our many partners in public health.”