Until now, many Arizona children with cystic fibrosis were not diagnosed soon enough to help prevent or slow down serious medical problems caused by this disease. The Arizona Department of Health Services’ Newborn Screening Program began testing newborns for cystic fibrosis (CF) in October and has already identified six babies who will benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.

“Thanks to this new test and follow-up treatment, these children will have a brighter future,” said Susan Gerard, Arizona Department of Health Services’ Director. “The goal of our newborn screening program is to extend and improve the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis and other serious, treatable disorders.”

CF is a genetic disease that causes breathing, digestive, and fertility problems. People with CF make thick, sticky mucus that clogs the airways of the lungs and prevents the pancreas from helping to digest food. Because early treatment can improve growth and lung function, newborn screening provides an opportunity for people with CF to lead longer, healthier lives.

When newborn screening detects CF early, treatment can begin right away. Without newborn screening, a child with CF may not be diagnosed for several years, especially if the child does not have specific symptoms and the parents are unaware of any family history of the disorder.

Arizona’s two certified CF centers – Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Arizona Respiratory Center in Tucson – will offer consultations to newborns’ healthcare providers and the affected parents. Doctors specializing in CF are available to evaluate, diagnose and treat the baby. The CF centers provide families with expert care so their babies have the opportunity to live life as healthy as possible.

Treatment for CF consists mainly of nutritional interventions, which have been shown to improve height, weight and cognitive function, and provide some benefits in maintaining or improving respiratory function and life expectancy.

Since 1994 when Arizona started screening for PKU (phenylketonuria), all Arizona babies have had a blood sample sent to the Arizona Department of Health for newborn screening. The sample is collected before each baby goes home from the hospital.

Technology and treatment have improved, and Arizona has expanded its newborn screening panel to include more disorders.

“Arizona screens for 29 conditions,” Director Gerard said. “Newborn screening can mean the difference between life and death or disability and healthy development for significant numbers of the approximately 100,000 babies born in Arizona every year.”

Gerard added: “Newborn screening is one of Arizona’s most important and effective public health programs. It truly is prevention in action.”

The Arizona Newborn Screening Program administers all newborn screening activities throughout the state. These activities include testing of specimens; coordination with consulting specialists, physicians, and hospitals; follow-up of abnormal test results; education of health professionals and the general public; and monitoring of data associated with testing, billing for tests, follow-up, and educational activities.

For more information, please visit www.AZNewborn.com.