The Illinois Department of Public Health is commemorating six decades of newborn screening, a program that now covers over 50 conditions. More than 100,000 newborns in Illinois undergo this essential testing each year. The initiative’s early detection efforts help ensure infants receive crucial diagnoses and treatment as soon as possible, improving health outcomes and saving lives. Health officials highlight that hundreds of babies each year benefit from prompt intervention thanks to this program. The department reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding infant health through continued advancements and vigilance in screening practices across the state.
“IDPH is proud to be a leader in supporting families with our newborn screening program,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “For the past 60 years in Illinois, newborn screens have detected potentially life-threating conditions in healthy babies before they show symptoms. Each year, more than 500 babies in our state are diagnosed through this vital public health service. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions can prevent serious health outcomes, enabling Illinois’s children to reach their full potential.”
For more information on Illinois’s newborn screening efforts, go to Newborn Screening.
