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A national organization says data from newborn blood spot screenings are stored by the government and used for research without parental permission.
The government has your baby’s DNA — should you be worried?
Some people think so.
The ubiquitous practice of newborn blood spot screening may seem harmless enough.
Babies born in the United States have a small amount of blood taken from their heels within the first 48 hours after they are born.
That sample is then used to screen for a panel of inheritable disorders and congenital defects, including sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and many others.
Blood samples are taken from more than 4 million infants each year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Trusted Source.
But, it’s what happens after those initial tests that some parents are unhappy about.
Depending on what state you live in, those blood spots could be stored by the government for six months, 20 years, or even indefinitely.
www.healthline.com
The government has your baby’s DNA — should you be worried?
Some people think so.
The ubiquitous practice of newborn blood spot screening may seem harmless enough.
Babies born in the United States have a small amount of blood taken from their heels within the first 48 hours after they are born.
That sample is then used to screen for a panel of inheritable disorders and congenital defects, including sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and many others.
Blood samples are taken from more than 4 million infants each year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Trusted Source.
But, it’s what happens after those initial tests that some parents are unhappy about.
Depending on what state you live in, those blood spots could be stored by the government for six months, 20 years, or even indefinitely.
Infant Blood Samples: Should Government Keep Them?
A national organization says data from newborn blood spot screenings are stored by the government and used for research without parental permission.
www.healthline.com
