Cystic fibrosis screening in newborns: results from existing programs.
Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) provides early identification and initiation of treatment to infants with this fatal and often misdiagnosed genetic disease. Although reports of health benefits continue to mount from decade-old screening programs in Wisconsin, France, and Australia, newborn screening for CF is still a highly debated topic in genetic policy development. This article summarizes the literature published between May 2000 and April 2001 regarding the health benefits, risks, cost-effectiveness, and programmatic issues of newborn screening for CF. The literature consistently shows evidence of benefits and lack of harm from newborn screening for CF.
Young
S S
SS
Sequoia Foundation, La Jolla, California, USA.
Kharrazi
M
M
Pearl
M
M
Cunningham
G
G
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000191:economics; D012307:Risk Factors