Every baby born in England will be screened for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) from October 2027 under a nationwide newborn testing programme, after the Department of Health and Social Care announced the expansion of screening to all newborns across the country, The Guardian reported
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About Spinal muscular atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare inherited condition that weakens muscles by damaging the nerves responsible for movement. Babies with the most severe form can develop difficulty sitting, crawling, walking, swallowing and breathing, and untreated cases can become life-threatening in early childhood.
The condition affects about one in every 10,000 babies, with around 48 cases diagnosed across the UK each year. Early detection allows babies to receive gene therapy before symptoms develop, significantly improving long-term outcomes.
From October 2027, blood collected during the routine heel-prick test carried out around five days after birth will also be screened for SMA. The same test already checks newborns for 10 other conditions, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and congenital hypothyroidism.
Expansion follows pilot programme
A pilot programme beginning in October this year is expected to cover about 72% of newborns in England. The government said universal screening will be achieved by expanding testing to all 13 newborn screening laboratories, up from the current seven.
Health officials said the nationwide rollout is intended to ensure every newborn has equal access to early diagnosis regardless of where they are born.
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