A Greeting to Massachusetts Parents

Dear Parent,

Congratulations! As you look to the future with your new baby, you will be happy to know that all babies born in Massachusetts benefit from a newborn screening public health program. This program helps prevent treatable diseases. It started in 1962 in Massachusetts with screening for just one disease. Since that time, the number of treatable disorders in the program has increased, and newborn screening has been adopted worldwide as a routine standard of care. Massachusetts is a leader in newborn screening. By Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulation, every baby born in Massachusetts is required to be tested by a comprehensive panel of tests (exceptions are possible for religious reasons).

Massachusetts also offers you some optional screening services. After your baby is born, you will be asked whether you want to take advantage of the optional services.

This website is your guide to newborn screening. A summary is provided in Newborn Screening in Massachusetts: Information for you and your baby, a brochure for parents, and specific questions are answered in the FAQs. This website also has additional descriptions of both routine and optional screenings.

We wish you and your baby the very best.

Sincerely,

The Staff of The New England Newborn Screening Program