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September is newborn screening awareness month. Newborn screening is an essential service that offers screening to all babies in Alberta for serious but treatable conditions. It’s critical to identify and treat these conditions early to help prevent health problems, improve health and development and save lives.
Physicians play a key role in communicating the importance of blood spot and hearing screening with families. Newborn screening is the most effective way to detect serious but treatable conditions before there are symptoms. Infants may have one of these conditions regardless of family history. Finding these conditions early means babies get the treatment they need when it can help the most.
- The Alberta Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program identifies permanent congenital hearing loss in newborns. Parents receive results after the test.
- The Alberta Newborn Screening Program screens for serious but treatable conditions. Results are available on Netcare. The newborn screening laboratory notifies ordering health care providers by phone if results are abnormal.
Over 47,000 infants were offered newborn screening through these programs between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
Speak with your patients before the birth of their baby (at 30 to 36 weeks) about the importance of newborn screening and attending follow-up when required.
Together we can help babies in Alberta have the best start to life possible. Learn more about the two newborn screening programs offered by AHS. Visit AHS.ca/newbornscreening. | 
