Newborn Screening for Metabolic and Sickle Cell Disorders Program

Success Stories

Since 1969, over 1,000 newborns in Georgia have been identified with a clinically significant metabolic or endocrine disorder and referred to specialty care for long-term follow-up. More than 2,200 newborns have been identified with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies since newborn screening began in 1980.

These are just a few of Georgia's newborn screening success stories.

		MCAD Deficiency (MCADD) was once thought to be a rare condition. It is now believed to be as common as PKU in some areas of the US. This disorder accounts for about one out of 100 SIDS deaths.
		Homocystinuria, a rare condition, was one of the 6 disorders added to the Georgia panel when it was first expanded in 1978. Since that time, seven newborns have been identified through the Georgia Newborn Screening Program.
		Sickle Cell Disease is the most common disorder on the screening panel. About one in 1300 newborns is diagnosed with this condition every year in Georgia, more than all of the diagnosed cases of metabolic and endocrine disorders combined.

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