Gov. Terry Branstad on Sept. 22 signed a proclamation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of newborn screening in Iowa and September as Newborn Screening Awareness Month.

Gov. Branstad prepares to sign a proclamation celebrating the 50th anniversary of newborn screening in Iowa and recognizing September as Newborn Screening Awareness Month. Surrounding him are families that have been helped by the program and professionals who represent laboratory screening, follow-up, public health, program administration and Iowa hospitals. The 50th anniversary of the first screening performed in the nation was celebrated in 2013.

Screening of a few drops of blood is conducted within the first days of life. The process can detect inherited conditions that – if left untreated – may cause devastating health effects, coma or death.

The Governor was joined by a number of families whose children were identified with inherited disorders and treated through the Iowa Newborn Screening Program. Also present were representatives from the State Hygienic Laboratory, the Iowa Department of Public Health, the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and additional Iowa hospitals who cooperate in the Iowa Newborn Screening Program.

The Iowa Newborn Screening Program began screening newborns for the inherited metabolic disorder Phenylketonuria (PKU) in 1966. Fifty years later, the Iowa Newborn Screening Program screens for more than 50 disorders to protect the health of about 40,000 Iowa babies annually.