More checks for newborn babies

A heel-prick screening programme carried out on newborn babies since the 1960s is to be expanded to include tests for a further 20 life-threatening disorders. Health Ministry child and youth health chief adviser Pat Tuohy said the current checks for seven metabolic conditions found disorders in about 35 babies a year. That number was expected to rise to 45 once the expanded programme was introduced next month. Starship Foundation's donation of a $500,000 tandem mass spectrometer screening device had allowed the expansion, he said. "The use of the new machine will dramatically improve the lives of even more New Zealand babies and their families." Metabolic conditions - including cystic fibrosis - were rare, and were inherited conditions caused by chemical defects in cells.

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