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Newborn screening is practiced nationwide to detect rare conditions that may be life-threatening or require medical attention. Shortly after birth, the baby’s heel is pricked and a few drops of blood are placed on a special filter-paper blood spot card, which is sent to the state government laboratory for screening. According to a 2009 study published in the journal Public Health Genomics, nearly every child born in the United States is screened. However, not all parents know the screening took place. Birth is a stressful time. Some parents tell researchers they can’t remember it happened. Others say they were in a “fog.”
Although most parents support newborn screening, parents in Minnesota and Texas have successfully sued after discovering the states stored and used babies’ blood spots after screenings without parental consent. DNA from blood samples has been used for genetic research. In Texas, the Department of State Health Services provided anonymous newborn blood specimens to the U.S. Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory for the creation of a forensics database. In 19 states, blood samples taken from newborns are stored from...
Although most parents support newborn screening, parents in Minnesota and Texas have successfully sued after discovering the states stored and used babies’ blood spots after screenings without parental consent. DNA from blood samples has been used for genetic research. In Texas, the Department of State Health Services provided anonymous newborn blood specimens to the U.S. Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory for the creation of a forensics database. In 19 states, blood samples taken from newborns are stored from...