BLOOD PHENYLALANINE LEVELS OF NEWBORN INFANTS. A ROUTINE SCREENING PROGRAM FOR THE HOSPITAL NEWBORN NURSERY

Abstract

If phenylketonuria is diagnosed during the first few weeks of life, a special diet can be given to prevent the brain damage that otherwise will occur.A simple, cheap, accurate laboratory test has been developed to diagnose the condition in infants two to four days old before they leave the hospital. At the Donald N. Sharp Memorial Community Hospital in San Diego routine testing of all newborn infants has been done with this technique since August 26, 1963. Mass screening programs in the newborn nursery are already being carried out by large numbers of hospitals across the United States.