Last year Arizona welcomed about 98,000 newborns to our world.  Our Newborn Screening Program (in the State Laboratory) ensures that each newborn is tested for 28 inherited disorders and hearing problems.   The goal is to help kids avoid illness, developmental delays and even death.  Teamwork, communication and coordination are to critical in making this program effective, thus benefiting both newborns and their families. A quick look at the numbers reveals how monumental this screening task really is.

On any given day our newborn screening team receives and tests from 600 to 1,500 bloodspot samples for each of the 28 disorders. Our demographics team verifies the results and confirms all of the data associated with each sample as well as ensuring that lab results are sent out to the health care provider.  Our case management team follows up on about 140 potentially positive results (including hearing) each week, coordinates the confirmation test and works with pediatricians, clinical specialists and families.

The end result?  Because of the dedication and commitment of each member of the Team, hundreds of families are afforded the opportunity for their newborn to receive the early treatment, intervention and support services that will allow them to lead normal lives.  Of course, none of this would be possible without the gasoline that runs the engine, the billing department brings in the dough that keeps this effective machine helping families every day.  Well done.