Newborn Screening (NBS)

BIOCHECK - NEWBORN SCREENING TEST

Biocheck Newborn Screening Test is done 24 hours AFTER a baby is born to identify serious Metabolic Disorders (IEMs or Inborn Errors of Metabolism) the baby may have been born with. These disorders, if undetected and untreated, can have adverse consequences for your baby’s health. If a baby is born with a disorder, a Newborn Screening Test helps detect the disorder early so treatments can start before the disorder causes any harm to your baby.

These disorders are inherited and cannot be prevented but they are TREATABLE. Even healthy looking babies and those with no family history of such disorders may have them. If a baby is born with a disorder, early detection and treatment is the only solution. Failure to start the treatment in time may result in mental retardation, physical disability or even death.

The test is done by performing a painless heel prick on the baby and collecting a few drops of blood, 24 to 72 hours after birth. This sample is sent to Biocheck Lab for testing. Results are normally available within 4 business days of sample collection.

Why Biosytech?

We are not just another diagnostic lab. In case the result of the screening test is positive for a disorder, we support the physicians and the parents in their efforts to treat the infant. We set up consultations with the experts, help with confirmatory testing and sourcing of diets. We do this daily.

Standards Compliant

Biocheck – New Born Screening follows worldwide standards in newborn screening. We use the dried blood spot sample (used by newborn screening labs all over the world) collected on a filter paper. The 903 or 226 filter paper blood collection form used by biosytech is custom designed for us. The bar coded filter paper is manufactured to be compliant with CLSI Standards defined in NBS01 Blood Collection on Filter Paper for Newborn Screening (6th Edition) to ensure that sample integrity and patient data are not compromised.

Interpretation

Biocheck – New Born Screening Program uses interpretation based on screening data of over 4 million babies for the disorders screened by Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS). The MS/MS interpretation allows us to accurately call out the presence or absence of the screened disorders.

Newborn Screening Panel

Biocheck – New Born Screening panels were initially based on the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Core and Secondary panels. This has now evolved to the Recommended Universal Screening Panel (RUSP) which forms the basis of newborn screening panels, worldwide. Disorders have to meet certain criteria before they are included in the newborn screening panels.

Quality Control

Biocheck – New Born Screening participates in the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP), quality control program based on dried blood spots. Nearly every newborn screening program and laboratory in the world (over 75 in 58 countries), participates in this quality assurance program. Biocheck – New Born Screening is accredited by NABL and CAP.