Newborn Screening for Metabolic and Sickle Cell Disorders Program

Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Recent advances in technology and treatment have allowed newborn screening programs to expand their panel of disorders offered. A major advance in newborn screening has been the application of a new technology, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). This instrument identifies compounds of interest by weight and determines their amounts present in the dried blood spot.

MS/MS is very specific and accurate, and can measure multiple compounds simultaneously from one bloodspot within its two-minute analysis time. MS/MS allows for the detection of more than 20 disorders of fatty acid oxidation, some organic acidemias, and amino acid disorders.

<<BACK