Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs  Newborn Blood Screening Program

Wisconsin's Newborn Screening Program strives to provide the best service possible for infants and their families. Newborn screening began in 1965 with testing for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder. Severe delays in brain development can be prevented if PKU is detected and treated from birth. Currently, the program screens for 44 disorders. In addition to screening all newborns for these disorders, the program plays a crucial part in the care of infants who are diagnosed with these conditions. Newborn Screening has prevented death and disability for hundreds of Wisconsin residents since its inception.

The Newborn Screening Program, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, has a Newborn Screening Advisory Group whose members include health care professionals, public health professionals and, most importantly, parents. This group's role is to help ensure that the program succeeds in screening, diagnosing and treating all Wisconsin newborns for a variety of preventable conditions present at birth. Family involvement is essential to the program's success.