IDF SCID Newborn Screening Campaign

On May 21, 2010, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) – commonly known as bubble boy disease – to the core panel of 29 genetic disorders. It is imperative that we sustain this momentum by establishing newborn screening programs in all 50 states.

Background

SCID is a primary immunodeficiency disease. Affected infants lack T lymphocytes, the white blood cells that help resist infections due to a wide array of viruses, bacteria and fungi. Babies with SCID appear healthy at birth, but without early treatment, most often by bone marrow transplant from a healthy donor, these infants cannot survive.

SCID has been characterized in the medical community as a pediatric emergency. If a baby with SCID receives a bone marrow transplant in the first 3.5 months of life, the survival rate can be as high as 94 percent. However, the survival rate drops to less than 70 percent for infants who are transplanted after that age. The main causes for the drop in survival rate are serious infections babies with SCID developed prior to transplantation.

The Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC) was chartered in February 2003 to perform evidence-based reviews and advise the Secretary regarding application of new screening tests, technologies, policies, guidelines and standards for effectively reducing morbidity and mortality in newborns and children having, or at risk for, heritable disorders. SCID is the first new disease to be added to the federal uniform core-screening panel by the evidence-based Committee review process.

The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) has strongly supported and worked tirelessly toward this goal for many years. But it is imperative that we sustain this momentum by working to establish newborn screening programs in all 50 states.

Several states operate SCID newborn screening programs already including California, Colorado, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin and the territory of Puerto Rico. With IDF assistance, many other states are in the process of adding SCID to their state’s Newborn Screening Panel.

Objective

The Immune Deficiency Foundation applauds the Secretary of Health and Human Service’s inclusion of SCID in the new national standards. IDF wants every state to include SCID Newborn Screening on their newborn screening panel immediately in order to save lives. To provide education and information about this issue, the IDF SCID Newborn Screening Toolkit (below) has been created. This toolkit is a helpful instructional resource designed to be given to legislators and other policy makers.

NEW! – What does an Abnormal Screen for SCID Mean?
A Guide for Parents

Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Conditions Associated with T Cell Lymphopenia, A Guide for Parents who receive an Abnormal Screen

Journal Articles
Statewide Newborn Screening for Severe T-Cell Lymphopenia
John M. Routes; William J. Grossman; James Verbsky; Ronald H. Laessig; Gary L. Hoffman; Charles D. Brokopp; Mei W. Baker
JAMA. 2009;302(22):2465-2470

IDF SCID Newborn Screening Toolkit

Contents:

• What is Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease?
• Questions about Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease
• Facts about Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease and Newborn Screening
• Questions about Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease

Take Action

Taking action means working toward SCID newborn screening within your state since each state handles newborn screening differently. Some states require legislative action to add a new screening test, while other states have the authority to do so based on the recommendation of their state newborn screening program. The National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center is a great resource. Visit their website to get information on how to contact your state lab or newborn screening program. Find out about the process of newborn screening in your state as well as vital information about the tests your state currently screens for in newborns.

SCID Newborn Screening Campaign Blog:

Colorado in the News for SCID Screening

2-21-2012 8:46 pm

Colorado officially began their statewide newborn screening program for SCID on February 1, 2012.  Since testing began, approximately 2,500 SCID tests have been performed on newborns, and no positive test results have yet been reported, state officials said.  Colorado’s important decision to help protect the lives of its states families was featured in the Denver [...]