2. Newborn screening (NBS) is a simple procedure to find out if your baby has a congenital metabolic disorder that may lead to mental retardation and even death if left untreated.

3. Most babies with metabolic disorders look normal at birth. One will never know that the baby has the disorder until the onset of signs and symptoms and more often ill effects are already irreversible.

4. Newborn screening is ideally done on the 48th hour or at least 24 hours from birth. Some disorders are not detected if the test is done earlier than 24 hours.

5. Newborn screening is a simple procedure. Using the heel prick method, a few drops of blood are taken from the baby's heel and blotted on a special absorbent filter card. The blood is dried for 4 hours and sent to the Newborn Screening Laboratory (NBS Lab)

6. Newborn screening can be done by a physician, a nurse, a midwife or medical technologist.

7. P550. The DOH Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening has approved a maximum allowable fee of P50 for the collection of the sample.

8. Newborn screening is available in participating health institutions (hospitals, lying-ins, Rural Health Units and Health Centers). If babies are delivered at home, babies may be brought to the nearest institution offering newborn screening.

9. Newborn Screening, specifically sample collection, is expected to be present in all hospitals and lying-in clinics following the order requiring these institution to offer NBS for licensing purposes.

10. Newborn screening results are available within seven to fourteen ( 7 - 14) working days after the newborn screening samples are received in the NBS laboratory.

11. A negative screen means that the result of the test indicates extremely low risk of having any of the disorders being screened. A positive screen means that the baby is at increased risk of having one of the disorders being screened.

12. Babies with positive results should be referred at once to the nearest hospital or specialist for confirmatory testing and further management. Should there be no specialist in the area, the NBS secretariat office will assist its attending physician.

13. Currently, there are five disorders being screened. These are: 1. CH (Congenital Hypothyroidism) 2. CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) 3. GAL (Galactosemia) 4. PKU (Phenylketonuria) 5. G6PD Deficiency

14. Disorder Screened Effect if NOT SCREENED Effect if SCREENED and treated CH results from lack or absences of thyroid hormone which is essential for the physical and mental development of a child. If the disorder is not detected and hormone replacement is not initiated with in two weeks, the baby with CH may suffer from growth and mental retardation. Severe Mental Retardation Normal

15. Disorder Screened Effect if NOT SCREENED Effect if SCREENED and treated CAH is an endocrine disorder that causes severe salt loss, dehydration and abnormally high levels of male sex hormones in both boys and girls. If not detected and treated early, babies with CAH may die within 7-14 days. DeathAlive and normal

16. Disorder Screened Effect if NOT SCREENED Effect if SCREENED and treated GAL is a condition in which babies are unable to process galactose, the sugar present in milk. Accumulation of excessive galactose in the body can cause problems including liver damage, brain damage and cataracts. Death or Cataracts Alive and normal

17. Disorder Screened Effect if NOT SCREENED Effect if SCREENED and treated PKU is a rare condition in which the baby cannot properly use one of the building blocks of proteins - the amino acid phenylalanine. Excessive accumulation of phenylalanine in the blood causes brain damage. Severe Mental Retardation Normal

18. Disorder Screened Effect if NOT SCREENED Effect if SCREENED and treated G6PD deficiency is a condition where the body lacks the enzyme called G6PD (Glucose-6- Phosphate Dehydrogenase). Babies with this deficiency may have hemolytic anemia resulting from exposure to oxidative substances found in drugs, food and chemicals. Severe Anemia, Kernicterus Normal