Chapter 8: The Newborn Screening Act of 2004

R.A. No. 9288

Also known as Newborn Screening Act of 2004

July 7, 2004

R.A. No. 9288 was approved on

June 27, 1996

Philippine Newborn Screening project was initiated on

DOH Administrative Order No. 1-A, Series of 2000

Policies for the Nationwide Implementation of Newborn Screening; initially covering disorders like congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, galactosemia, and phenylketonuria.

January 3, 2000

Policies for the Nationwide Implementation of Newborn Screening was issued on this date

DOH Administrative Order No. 121, Series of 2003

Strengthening Implementation of National Newborn Screening System; adding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency to the NBS panel.

December 9, 2003

Strengthening Implementation of the National Newborn Screening System was issued on this date

Proclamation No. 540

It declared the first week of October each year as National Newborn Screening Week

President Gloria Arroyo

Issued the Proclamation No. 540

October 7, 2004

Proclamation No. 540 is issued on this date

Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9288

These regulations ensure the right to health and development for children by mandating that every baby born in the Philippines is offered NBS.

October 7, 2004

Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9288 is issued on this date

DOH Department Memorandum No. 2012-0154

Issued on May 15, 2012, it directed the inclusion of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) in the NBS panel, completing the 6-test parameters (Option 1).

DOH Administrative Order No. 2014-0045

Issued on November 19, 2014, it provided "Guidelines on the Implementation of the Expanded Newborn Screening Program," detecting a total of 28 disorders across various categories.

DOH Administrative Order No. 2018-0025

Promulgated on November 5, 2018, this order established the "National Policy and Strategic Framework on Expanded Newborn Screening for 2017-2030."

DOH Administrative Order No. 2014-0045-A

Released on March 29, 2019, it directed that the 6-test option (Option 1) would be offered only until April 30, 2019. Effective May 1, 2019, all infants born in accredited facilities must undergo the Expanded NBS (ENBS) test.

Newborn screening

is the process of collecting a few drops of blood from the newborn onto an appropriate collection card and performing biochemical testing to determine if the newborn has a heritable condition

Expanded newborn screening

is an examination that increases the coverage of NBS panel from six to twenty-eight types of congenital disorders

30 days old

how old is a child to be considered newborn

24 hours

NBS shall be performed after ___ of life

Heritable condition

any congenital trait that can result in mental retardation, physical deformity, or death if left undetected and untreated. This is usually inherited from the genes of either or both biological parents.

Newborn screening Facility

That educates parents about NBS during the prenatal period / collects blood samples for NBS, sends the specimens to the NSC, recalls patients found positive in NBS, and assists in the management of patients.

Recall

Refers to a procedure for locating a newborn with a possible heritable condition to provide the newborn with appropriate laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis and administer treatment

Follow-up

Requires monitoring a newborn with a heritable condition to ensure that the newborn patient fully complies with the prescribed diet and medication

Newborn Confirmatory Center (NBCC)

Refers to a facility identified by the DOH to be part of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System Treatment Network. It is equipped to perform confirmatory testing to ensure the accuracy of screening results.

Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSFC)

the central facility at the National Institutes of Health that defines testing and follow-up protocols, maintains an external laboratory proficiency testing program, oversees the national testing database and case registries, assists in training activities on various aspects of the program, oversees content of educational materials, and acts as the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening

Newborn screening center (NSC)

is a facility equipped with an NBS laboratory that complies with the standards established by the National Institutes of Health and provides all required laboratory tests and recall/follow-up programs for newborns with heritable conditions.

Newborn screening continuity clinic

refers to an ambulatory clinic based in a tertiary hospital and identified by the DOH to be part of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System Treatment Network. It is equipped to facilitate continuity of care for confirmed patients in its area of coverage.

Three years

COA issued to Newborn Screening Centers is valid for

One year

LTO given to Newborn blood collection center is valid for

Heel prick method

Preferred mode of collection of samples in NBS