The Minnesota Department of Health today announced a series of measures to improve and strengthen the state's newborn screening program. The measures are designed to address concerns about the long-term storage and use of infants' dried blood spots for non-screening purposes and to improve the information that new parents receive about all aspects of the program.

In collaboration with birthing hospitals and other health-care providers, the department screens for 53 disorders and hearing loss in 73,000 babies born in Minnesota each year. All of the screened disorders are treatable. Each year, approximately 140 infants are found to have a confirmed metabolic or congenital disorder. For many of these children, early diagnosis and medical intervention can prevent death or severe disability. Another 150 babies receive early hearing loss detection and intervention services that greatly increase their chances for improvement in cognitive and language development.

MDH will propose legislation this session for the department to keep the dried blood for two years in order to manage the newborn screening program and develop and perfect screening tests. After two years, the department would destroy the blood spots unless parents give consent for longer storage.

The department has launched a revamped newborn screening program Web site that provides parents, parents-to-be and health-care professionals with improved information on newborn screening for infants born in Minnesota. The new site at http://www.health.state.mn.us/newbornscreening/ provides important information for families and professionals, including how parents may request destruction of their baby's specimens or test results or opt out of the screening. All required forms are available to download from the new site.

Several other measures will also be enacted.

"We believe these measures improve the newborn screening program by protecting the health of children and the rights of parents," Magnan said.

More information about Minnesota's Newborn Screening Program can be found at http://www.health.state.mn.us/newbornscreening/.