Editorial: State should upgrade its newborn testing

Thursday, June 26, 2003 | 9 a.m.

As part of their public-health activities, states have screening programs for all newborns -- programs that can make all the difference for the babies and their families. Each year, according to the federal General Accounting Office, 4 million infants are tested shortly after birth. If there is a disorder, the earlier it can be detected the better. In many cases the infant's diet can be adjusted or medications can be prescribed to prevent death or the onset of a disorder's maladies, such as mental retardation or bacterial infections.

Because newborn screening is a function of state government, there is no uniform standard throughout the country. According to the GAO, in a report published in March, most states screen for eight or fewer disorders, with the range being between four and 36. Nevada screens for six.

In August, however, the state Board of Health will consider a proposal to contract with an Oregon lab to screen for 24 disorders. The lab would use Tandem Mass Spectroscopy, the latest screening technology and the one many states have adopted for their newborn testing over the past four or five years. The proposal recommends covering the additional cost by increasing the birth registration fee from $28 to $60. This is generally paid by health insurers as part of a hospital's maternity fees. The state absorbs the cost for those who are uninsured and indigent. No matter who pays, certainly the future of a newborn is worth an extra $32.