It brings the number of conditions screened under the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme to 11
Newborn babies will be screened for two new conditions through the heel prick test from today.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has announced testing for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.
It brings the number of conditions screened under the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme to 11.
SMA Ireland, the advocacy body for families and people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, has welcomed the news.
Director of SMA Ireland, Jonathan O’Grady said: “This is such excellent news for new and expectant parents and indeed for everyone who will have a baby in Ireland in the future.
"Finally, SMA is being tested for in the heelprick test, something our members and the families we represent have been campaigning about for years. We applaud the work of the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the Dept of Health and those in the HSE who have been working to have SMA implemented in the heelprick test.”
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