IDPH Marks 60 Years of Newborn Screening in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health is marking 60 years of newborn screening in Illinois, a program that began in 1965 with testing for one disorder and now checks for more than 50 conditions. Each year more than 100,000 babies are screened, with about 500 diagnosed early for conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. The screenings, conducted within the first days of life, include tests for genetic, metabolic, and blood disorders as well as hearing loss, allowing for early intervention and treatment.