Considerations in choosing screening conditions: One (US) approach

The lack of a national policy on newborn screening (NBS) in the United States has resulted in 51 state-specific NBS policies (including 50 states and the District of Columbia). In 2000, a working group of the American Academy of Pediatrics provided a national NBS blueprint for the future. Using this guidance, the Health Resources and Services Administration contracted with the American College of Medical Genetics to: (i) develop a decision-making algorithm for states to use in selecting conditions for screening panels, and (ii) recommend a panel of tests to guide states in their screening requirements. This report outlines and summarises the processes and outcomes leading to the current NBS recommendations in the United States.