Montana's Expanded Newborn Screening
As of January 2008, Montana screens all newborns with: (1) a metabolic screen (bloodspot test) for the 28 conditions recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Medical Genetics; and (2) a hearing screen (the 29th screened condition).
Montana Resources
Updated Montana recommendations for screening pre-term, low birth weight, and sick infants- Montana’s Newborn Screening Brochure for Parents (pdf)
- Montana CSHS Pediatric Specialty Clinic Information
-
Montana Public Health Laboratory Newborn Screening
- Newborn Screening - Clinical Testing List of Services
- Protecting your baby's Newborn Screening Information
- Unidentified Hemoglobin Variants
- Cystic Fibrosis and Newborn Screening
- Montana Administrative Rules for Newborn Screening
- Montana Newborn Screening Laws (Montana Code Annotated)
Other Resources
- Baby’s First Test, the nation's newborn screening education center for families and providers
- National Library of Medicine Newborn Screening Information
- Parents’ fact sheets for disorders detected by newborn screening -
(Screening, Technology And Research in Genetics (STAR-G) Project)
Metabolic (Bloodspot) Screen
- Most babies are healthy when they are born. Montana tests all babies because a few babies look healthy but have rare health problems. If we find these problems early, we can help prevent serious outcomes like mental retardation or death.
- A few drops (1/8 tsp) of blood are safely collected from the baby’s heel on a special card, usually 1 or 2 days after birth. The Montana Public Health Laboratory receives the blood cards, has the testing done, and reports the results.
- Approximately 12,500 babies were born in Montana in 2008. Seventeen babies (1 in 735) were treated for a condition detected by the newborn bloodspot screen.
- The newborn screen may need to be repeated if the bloodspot sample was not adequate to complete testing, or if the first test suggested a possible health problem.
- Follow-up services for babies with conditions detected by newborn screening are provided under a contract administered by Montana’s Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS). This includes support for regional pediatric specialty clinics, such as metabolic clinics. Newborn-screening follow-up
- Montana screens for
- Amino acid metabolism disorders, including Phenylketonuria (PKU), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), Homocystinuria (HCY), Citrullinemia/ Arginosuccinic Acidemia (CIT/ASA) and Tyrosinemia Type I (TYR1). These disorders occur in 1 in 10,000 to less than 1 in 100,000 births.
- Organic acidemia disorders, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency (HMG), 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency (3MCC), β-ketothiolase deficiency (BKT), Glutaric acidemia type I (GA1), Isovaleric acidemia (IVA), Methylmalonic acidemia (MUT and CblA,B), Multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD), Propionic acidemia (PROP). These disorders occur in about 1 in 50,000 births overall.
- Fatty acid oxidation disorders, including Carnitine uptake defect (CUD), Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD), Long-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHAD), Very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCAD), and Trifunctional protein deficiency (TFP). These disorders occur in about 1 in 10,000 births overall.
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CH), which occurs in about 1 in 3000 births.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which occurs in about 1 in 12,000 births.
- Cystic fibrosis (CF), which occurs in about 1 in 2500 births to those of European ancestry.
- Hemoglobin disorders, including Sickle cell anemia (HbSS), Hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC), and Hemoglobin S/β-thalassemia (HbS/βth). Sickle cell anemia occurs in about 1 in 400 births to those of African ancestry, and about 1 in 10,000 Montana births.
- Galactosemia (GALT), which occurs in about 1 in 60,000 births.
- Biotinidase deficiency (BIOT), which occurs in about 1 in 60,000 births.
For additional information contact:
Linda Beischel, Newborn Screening Coordinator
Laboratory Services Bureau
406-444-0984
lbeischel@mt.gov
