New Born Screening
Newborn Blood Spot Screening for Cystic Fibrosis
Newborn bloodspot screening for Cystic Fibrosis commenced in Ireland on 1st July 2011. All newborn children in Ireland are now tested for CF as part of the existing newborn bloodspot programme. Newborn blood spot screening is usually known as the 'heel-prick test'.The leaflets included in this section are primarily for parents who have been informed by a specialised CF doctor or nurse following screening that their child:
(A) Is suspected of having CF (Leaflets 1 and 2)
(B) Does not have CF but is a healthy carrier of CF (Leaflet 3)
Leaflets
1. Increased Risk of Cystic Fibrosis: For parents who have been informed that the result of the Newborn Bloodspot (heel-prick) Test indicates their baby is at increased risk of cystic fibrosis.
2. The Sweat Test: For parents who have been informed that their child will have a sweat test to determine if the child has cystic fibrosis or not.
3. Healthy Carrier of Cystic Fibrosis: For parents who have been informed following screening that their child does not have cystic fibrosis, but is a healthy carrier of cystic fibrosis.
Background to Newborn Bloodspot Screening
From 1 July 2011, newborn babies are screened for the following six conditions as part of the heelprick test:- Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
- Pheylketonuria (PKU)
- Congenital Hypothyroidism
- Maple Syrup Urine Disease
- Classical Galactosaemia
- Homosystinuria
Joe Dunne and Aifric Smith were one of the first families to find out their child had CF through newborn screening. They appeared on the Ireland AM show recently with their beautiful daughter Saoirse, along with Philip Watt, CEO CFAI, to discuss the importance of newborn screening:
CFAI has an information pack for parents whose child is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Please contact us at:
CF House
24 Lower Rathmines Road
Dublin 6
Ireland
t: +353 1 496 2433
f: +353 1 496 2201
e: info@cfireland.ie
w: www.cfireland.ie
More information on the newborn screening service can also be found on the HSE website at the following link: http://www.newbornscreening.ie/
Updated 28/06/2011
