- £1.21m lab at University Hospital Wales to expand newborn
screening in Wales.
- £529,000 extra to add Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 to the 9
conditions already screened for.
- Investment will mean Wales is in a position to explore taking
part in the evaluation, and any potential future national
screening, for SMA and SCID.
Babies born in Wales will be screened for more conditions in the
future thanks to a £1.21m investment for a new laboratory
facility announced today.
The All-Wales Newborn Bloodspot Screening Service will be
expanded through a new biochemistry laboratory at University
Hospital Wales (UHW) announced today by the Welsh Government. An
additional £529,000 has also been agreed to expand newborn
screening to cover testing for Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1.
The newborn screening programme currently screens all babies born
in Wales (around 28,000 a year) for 9 rare but serious diseases
such as cystic fibrosis and congenital hypothyroidism. The
service's current testing facilities however are not large enough
to introduce new tests.
The new lab will provide sufficient space and infrastructure to
begin testing for Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1, as recommended
by the UK National Screening Committee, and research and tests
recommended in the future. For instance - the committee is
currently developing evidence and evaluating whether Spinal
Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Severe Combined Immune Deficiency
(SCID) should be included as part of the NBS screening programmes
across the UK.
Babies who test positive for screened-for conditions can then be
treated early, improving their health and, in some cases,
preventing severe disability or even death.
The test involves taking a small sample of blood from the baby's
heel, ideally on days 4-6 of the baby's life. The test is
usually carried out by a midwife and is part of routine
post-natal care.
Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, , said:
This new lab will modernise and futureproof our newborn screening
infrastructure in Wales. We know that screening saves lives and
this development means we'll be well placed to respond to future
screening developments and recommendations.
This investment underlines our Government's clear commitment to
provide every child in Wales the best start in life.
Dr Sikha de Souza, Public Health Consultant for Public Health
Wales said:
"Newborn blood spot screening helps to give babies the best start
in life. By detecting serious health conditions shortly after
birth, it allows early treatment that can improve outcomes and
prevent lifelong complications. This new laboratory facility is a
welcome addition to our newborn blood spot screening programme in
Wales."
