SAN BRUNO, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A new expanded newborn
screening test may help prevent infant deaths that are diagnosed as sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS). Cbr's NewScreen(TM): Expanded Newborn Screening,
which is being launched at the ACOG Annual Clinical Meeting in Chicago
April 28-May 2, 2001, can detect many fatty acid oxidation disorders which,
according to research in The Journal of Pediatrics (132:6), may comprise up to
5 percent of SIDS cases.
Thousands of children die every year from SIDS, the third leading cause of
infant death in the United States. According to the SIDS Network,
"more children die of SIDS in a year than all who die of cancer, heart
disease, pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy
combined."
Fatty acid disorders are just one subset of more than 40 disorder
classifications that can be detected by NewScreen, making it the most
comprehensive newborn screening test available to parents. On average, states
only mandate testing for six disorders and very few require any screening for
fatty acid disorders, which means thousands of babies slip through the cracks
every year.
Brett Revinski of Central Valley, NY was one of those babies. He spent
2 months on life-support before doctors discovered he had a fatty acid
oxidation disorder. "If my doctor had told me about newborn screening, I would
have agreed to pay for the test out of pocket in an instant," says Brett's
mom, Gina Revinski.
Using biochemical assays and powerful new technology for newborn screening
called tandem mass spectrometry, NewScreen is a simple screening test that
uses a blood sample taken at the same time as a newborn's routine "heel-stick"
in the first few days of life. The introduction of NewScreen marks the first
nation-wide campaign to bring this new technology to expectant parents and to
increase awareness about the importance of expanded newborn screening for
infant health. NewScreen is available for less than $100.
NewScreen is a time-sensitive test and it is important for expectant
parents to make arrangements before they give birth. One in every 1,500 babies
are born with a disorder that can be detected with NewScreen. Caregivers and
parents can learn more about NewScreen by visiting
http://www.newscreentest.com .
Please visit our booth (1754) at the ACOG Annual Clinical Meeting for more
information and press materials.
CONTACT: Sam Yoo, 800-747-3319, ext. 239, or syoo@cordblood.com, or Amy
Seirer, 800-747-3319, ext. 303, or aseirer@cordblood.com, both of Cord Blood
Registry.
SOURCE Cord Blood Registry
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Related links:
http://www.cordblood.com
CONTACT:
Sam Yoo, 800-747-3319, ext. 239, or
syoo@cordblood.com, or Amy Seirer, 800-747-3319, ext. 303, or
aseirer@cordblood.com, both of Cord Blood Registry
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