Background: Hemoglobinopathies as a group is one of the most common conditions confirmed through the newborn screening (NBS) program of the Philippines. This led to the increased participation of pediatric hematologists in the NBS program. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess newborn screening acceptance and knowledge of pediatric hematologists using an online questionnaire. Method: Members of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Hematology (PSPH), who are practicing pediatric hematologists in the Philippines, were invited to answer an online questionnaire. Results: Sixty members of the PSPH (65.2%) answered the survey. All the respondents are familiar with the newborn screening program. Fifty-seven respondents (95 %) have already managed a case of hemoglobinopathy identified through the newborn screening program. Differences in the approach to management and level of confidence with diagnostic test result interpretation have been noted. General themes of their concerns include being unaware of the protocol, concerns on delays in confirmatory tests, request for guidelines on follow-up, and incongruence of results with clinical picture. Conclusion The information collected may be used to develop strategies to better equip our pediatric hematologists and assist the PSPH standardize management protocols for hemoglobinopathies.
hemoglobinopathies ; newborn screening

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mass Screening*

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening

The trial of external quality assessment for inborn error of metabolism was performed in 2003. A total 10 specimens for neonatal screening tests were distributed to 43 laboratories with a response rate of 83%. All the control materials were sent as a filter paper form. Each laboratory replied the test result as the screening items they were doing as a rountine test at the reception of the specimen among PKU screening, neonatal TSH, neonatal T4(total/free), galactosemia screen, homocytinuria screen and histidinemia screen. The mean, SD, and CV were analyzed.
Galactosemias ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Metabolism* ; Neonatal Screening

Legal issues arise if some persons or institutions feel wrongfully treated whether or not this feeling is justified. In neonatal screening, the following topics may be causing legal issues: no screening programme where such a programme should be (UN Convention for the right of the child); neonate(s) not screened for conditions within the established programme; no consent when it should have been given; error(s) in sampling, analysis, reporting; no follow-up available, error(s) in confirmatory diagnostics and treatment; irregular storage of dried blood spot specimen. Legal issues can be solved easily when responsibilities of parties concerned have been established and documented. Unfortunately, legal systems vary from country to country and what has become "normal" practice in one jurisdiction may still be battled about in another. The management of a neonatal screening programme should try to define as best as possible the performance criteria and to have the programme assessed and accredited to certain internationally accepted standards. It diminishes the chances for errors and it helps to avoid legal issues.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; legislation & jurisprudence

No abstract available.
Infant, Newborn ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors* ; Neonatal Screening*

Five years ago, we made the cut-off value of Tsh by dry filter paper method as 15 microU/ml to sereening congenital hypothyroidism. Since then, 1,210 term neonates, who had no perinatal problems, were born in SNUCH between Aug. 1987 and Apr. 1992, had been performed this neonatal Tsh screening test with this cut-off point. Neonates had been recalled for measurement of serum T4/TSH to rule out congenital hypoothyroidism if their TSH value by screening tests reveal more than 15 microU/ml. Because there had been high false-positive rate during 5 years, we felt thiscut-off value of TSH should be set higher than 15 microU/ml with same method. Therefore, we analyzedthis TSH values to set a new cut-off point to recall the neonates. The results ars asbelow: 1) TSH value by dry filter paper method was 8.48+/-4.41 U/ml(mean+/-S.D.) 2) Assuming 15 microU/ml as a cut-off point for recall the neonates, the false positive fate is 8.01% 3) Tomake the false positive rates as 0.3%, it is reasonable to set the cut-off point at 22 microU/ml, whichis +/-3S.D.(99.7 percentile) of measured TSH level by dry filter paper method.
Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mass Screening*

Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening

Human ; Infant Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; Policy ; Research

Newborn hearing screening program (NHSP) is a standard of care in many countries around the world. Its success to a great extent depends on professionals understanding of the program’s goals and the screening procedures. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of Malaysian healthcare professionals involved in NHSP. A cross-sectional survey study using a 25 items questionnaire was conducted on a purposive sample of healthcare professionals who worked in 30 Malaysian government hospitals that run NHSP. Four hundred and three questionnaires were distributed, only 138 completed questionnaires were analysed, yielding a response rate of 34.2%. Of the 138 healthcare professionals, 35 (25.4%) were paediatricians, 43 (31.2%) were ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, and 60 (43.5%) were nurses. In general, the study revealed that the ENT specialists scored significantly higher that the paediatricians and nurses on both knowledge and attitude. Although the majority of all three healthcare professionals (>75%) viewed NHSP as very important, yet many nurses and paediatricians (>70%) reported received limited information during their training in this area and felt uncomfortable in explaining about the whole hearing screening process to the parents. Despite the positive attitude towards NHSP, 22.5% of the healthcare professionals were not aware of the existence of the program. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated knowledge gap in NHSP among the healthcare professionals, but their positive attitudes could be an indication of a strong interest to learn more about NHSP. Therefore, there is a need to take urgent efforts to improve the knowledge of healthcare professionals on NHSP.
knowledge ; attitude ; healthcare professionals ; newborn hearing screening