A Brief History of Newborn Screening

Gerald Vockley, MD, PhD, Head of the Division of Medical Genetics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, provides a brief history on newborn screening. Newborn screening began with phenylketonuria (PKU). In the 1960s, Dr. Robert Guthrie showed the value of developing a NBS program to screen for PKU since it was a genetic disease that can lead to permanent damage to the body if not treated early. Since babies with PKU appear normal at birth, NBS is important to establish a proper treatment/diet plan as soon as possible.Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.