A review of the psychosocial effects of false-positive results on parents and current communication practices in newborn screening

Psychosocial Impact of False-Positive Newborn Screening Results: A Scoping Review

Psychosocial consequences of false-positive results following newborn bloodspot screening have been identified as a potential risk to this highly successful public health initiative. A scoping review was undertaken in October 2023 underpinned by the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Twenty-four papers were included in the review, many of which focused on cystic fibrosis. The results indicated that impact of false-positive results is variable; some studies suggest false-positive results have the potential to result in negative sequelae including increased stress and changes in parental perceptions of their child, while others suggest these impacts are transient and, in some instances, may even lead to positive outcomes. Further evidence is needed to ensure the representation of other conditions included in newborn bloodspot screening and to support strategies to overcome potential negative sequela.

Past as Prologue: Predicting Potential Psychosocial-Ethical Burdens of Positive Newborn Screens as Conditions Propagate

We look to the past as prologue for guidance in predicting and circumventing potential psychosocial-ethical challenges, including those that may influence the attachment process for some parents. We consider the evolution of bioethics and developmental psychology as they intersect with newborn screening while exploring potential implications of positive findings, be they false positives, true positives, or secondary as well as incidental findings. We reflect on navigating the complex landscape that may be significantly impacted by variable phenotypes, the age of onset, and uncertain prognoses, mindful of the diagnostic odyssey continuum. We explore select facets of ethical and psychological challenges encountered with positive newborn screening findings by highlighting enduring debates to improve the policy process in public health and medicine. We believe substantive empirical research is needed, including long-term follow-up, routine prenatal assessment of tolerance for uncertainties, and especially innovative methodologies to better evaluate potential psychological distress that may be present in some at-risk individuals during the perinatal period preceding and following reports of positive findings. Mitigation strategies building on lessons learned from NBS and clinical follow-up should be implemented and studied. We conclude by pondering why we remain far afield from providing these services. Research directed towards understanding the implications of positive NBS findings will further reduce the burdens on families and care providers alike and should lead to improved communication.

The Ontario Newborn Screening Program: A novel referral center model

Newborn screening (NBS) for inherited and congenital disorders is a form of secondary disease prevention and a public health responsibility. The development of NBS programs is one of the most important achievements in health care. While the scope of the screening targets has expanded and methods have evolved, the screening process has remained essentially unchanged.In 2006, the Canadian province of Ontario implemented a new provincial NBS program that differs from conventional programs. One of the key differences is the structured and fully funded partnership between the ministry of health, the NBS laboratory, and the treatment centers in the province. Each one of these partners has defined roles and accountability. Another difference is the move away from the conventional recall process to an immediate referral system to selected treatment centers.In this article, we report our experience with the new screening structure and discuss it as a model for future NBS programs.

[Newborn hearing screening in Germany-results of the 2011/2012 and 2017/2018 evaluations]

BACKGROUND

Newborn hearing screening (NHS) was introduced nationwide by the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, G‑BA) in 2009. In this process, quality targets were also set in the pediatrics directive. In order to review the quality NHS in Germany, the G‑BA commissioned a consortium to conduct an initial evaluation for the years 2011 and 2012 and a follow-up evaluation for 2017 and 2018.

METHODS

The evaluations were based on NHS screening parameters (Sammelstatistiken) that must be documented by all obstetrics and neonatology departments as NHS providers and can also be compiled through cooperation with hearing screening centers (HSCs). Additional data were collected through questionnaires and interviews and routine data were used to evaluate the screening process.

RESULTS

In 13 federal states, a total of 15 HSCs are involved in the screening process. Across Germany, an NHS screening rate of 86.1% was documented in 2018 (82.4% in 2012), but this differed significantly between the federal states. The specified quality targets could not yet be implemented everywhere. For example, only less than half of the obstetric departments achieved the specified screening rate of over 95%. A comparison of data from the follow-up evaluation and the first evaluation showed that the structural quality of NHS had improved, while the process quality remained the same or had deteriorated. The refer rate (children who were discharged without passing the screening) increased from 5.3% to 6.0%.

DISCUSSION

To improve the quality of NHS, HSCs should be established nationwide and a second screening should be carried out more consistently before discharge in the case of a refer result in the initial screening.

Communicating a Positive Result at Newborn Screening and Parental Distress

The assumption of this study is strictly connected to the need to focus and to know more about the impact on the psychological state of the parents whose newborn babies get a positive result at Expanded Newborn Screening (ENS). As clinical experience shows us, this aspect seems to have a potentially lasting resonance on the way the disease will be managed and handled in the family, leading to potential negative effects and repercussions on the child's wellbeing and on the quality of life within the family. On the basis of this and on the evidence emerging from a review of the literature, this study aims to investigate and objectify possible distress indicators elicited at the moment of the communication of a positive result at ENS. Questionnaires containing the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey tests were administered to the parents of 87 newborns who received positive results at ENS. The parents of 32 babies expressed the presence of discomfort potentially related to the communication of a positive result at ENS.

Is Our Newborn Screening Working Well? A Literature Review of Quality Requirements for Newborn Blood Spot Screening (NBS) Infrastructure and Procedures

Newborn screening using dried blood spots (NBS) is widely acknowledged as a highly successful procedure in secondary prevention. For a number of congenital disorders, severe disability or death are impressively prevented by early detection and early treatment through NBS. However, as with any other screening, NBS can also cause harm, and the principle that "the overall benefits of screening should outweigh the harms" must be considered when introducing and implementing NBS programmes. This publication compiles the results of a systematic literature research on requirements for NBS infrastructure and procedures which was conducted as part of a research project on the quality and shortcomings of the NBS pathway in Germany. The compilation contains the requirements and recommendations for realising the principle of "maximise benefits and minimise harms" in relevant NBS pathway components such as parental education and information, coverage, timeliness, laboratory quality assurance, follow-up of abnormal results, confirmatory diagnostics, documentation, and evaluation. The results reflect the complexity of NBS infrastructure, and thus, they illustrate the importance of considering and implementing NBS as a well-coordinated public health programme with continuous quality management. Special attention should be paid to the perspectives of parents and families. Some NBS issues can substantially benefit from digital instruments or international cooperation. The literature review presented here has contributed to a concept of proposals for the advancement of NBS in Germany, and despite different settings, it may as well be of interest for other countries to achieve the best possible course and outcome of NBS for each child.

Effects of a false-positive result in newborn congenital hypothyroidism screening on parents in Guangxi, China

Background

As more than 500,000 neonates participate in newborn congenital hypothyroidism (CH) screening in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region each year, the overall number of false-positive (FP) cases has increased. We aim to assess the parental stress in parents of neonates with FP CH results in Guangxi, find out the influence factors related to demographics, and provide the basis for personalized health education.

Methods

The parents of neonates with FP CH results were invited to participate in the FP group, and the parents of neonates with all negative results were invited to participate in the control group. The parents completed a questionnaire on demographics, knowledge of CH, and the parental stress index (PSI) in the hospital for the first time. The follow-up visits for PSI were conducted 3, 6, and 12 months afterward through telephone and online.

Results

A total of 258 and 1,040 parents participated in the FP and control groups, respectively. The parents in the FP group had better knowledge of CH and higher PSI scores than the parents in the control group. The result of logistic regression showed that the major influence factors related to the knowledge of CH were FP experience and source of knowledge. The parents in the FP group who were well-informed during the recall phone call had lower PSI scores than the other parents. The parents in the FP group showed decreasing PSI scores gradually in follow-up visits.

Conclusion

The results suggested that FP screening results may affect parental stress and parent-child relationship. FP results increased the stress on the parents and increased their knowledge of CH passively.

Information and Parental Consent for French Neonatal Screening: A Qualitative Study on Parental Opinion

Neonatal screening has excellent coverage in France. Data from the foreign literature raise questions about the informed consent to this screening. The Neonatal Screening and Informed Consent Dépistage Néonatal Information et Consentement Eclairé (DENICE) study was designed to assess whether information on neonatal screening provided for families in Brittany allows for informed consent. A qualitative methodology was chosen to collect parents' opinions on this topic. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-seven parents whose children had positive neonatal screening for one of six diseases. The five main themes from the qualitative analysis were knowledge of neonatal screening, information received by parents, parental choice, the experience of the screening process, and parents' perspectives and wishes. Informed consent was weakened by parents' lack of knowledge regarding choice and the absence of a parent after birth. The study found that more information about screening during pregnancy would be preferable. The information should be repeated and accessible and should make it clear that neonatal screening is not mandatory, but informed consent should be obtained from parents who choose to screen their newborns.

German newborn screening for Cystic fibrosis: Parental perspectives and suggestions for improvements

PURPOSE

Cystic fibrosis (CF) was added to the German newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) panel in 2016. This study assesses parental perceptions of CF-NBS and confirmatory testing.

METHODS

Prospective questionnaire-based survey administered to parents of children with positive CF-NBS over 40 months after initiation of CF-NBS in Southwest Germany. Parental perceptions were compared to results from Bavaria and Switzerland.

RESULTS

Questionnaires with 29 standardized questions were sent to 343 families with children born between October 2016 and January 2020. A total of 178 (51.9%) replied. Although required by law, only a minority were informed about CF-NBS by a physician. The information provided about NBS was sufficient for 78% of parents. Regarding the information about positive CF-NBS, 52.9% were satisfied but the majority expressed negative emotions (89.5%). While most of these were resolved after confirmatory diagnostics, 17% of parents of children with false-positive CF-NBS and 66.7% of children confirmed with CF remained anxious. Waiting time for sweat testing was >3 days in 56.1%, considerably longer than in more centralized screening systems. Parents who waited for a maximum of 3 days were significantly more satisfied. 70.7% of parents were satisfied with the information given during confirmatory diagnostics and 91.4% were satisfied with participating in CF-NBS.

CONCLUSIONS

CF-NBS stands in high regard with parents. Smooth organization, timely initiation of confirmatory testing, and professional communication are most important to limit parental anxiety. A more centralized system of confirmatory diagnostics appears advantageous in several regards as it reduces time from positive NBS to final diagnosis and increases parental satisfaction.

Neonatal screening for isovaleric aciduria: Reducing the increasingly high false-positive rate in Germany

Newborn screening (NBS) for isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is performed by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry quantifying C5 carnitines (C5). Isovalerylcarnitine, however, is isomeric with pivaloylcarnitine which can be present in blood due to maternal use of pivaloylester-containing antibiotics, available in Germany since late 2016. During a 36-month period (January 19-December 21), all newborns screened in Hamburg with a C5 above cutoff (NeoGram®: 0.50 μmol/L or Neobase®2: 0.45 μmol/L) were included in the study. As a second-tier test, a simple ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to differentiate the C5 isomers pivaloyl-, 2-methylbutyryl-, isovaleryl-, and valerylcarnitine. Out of 156 772 newborns tested, one turned out to have genetically proven IVA while 99 were false positive (C5: 0.5-8.2 μmol/L) due to the presence of pivaloylcarnitine. These cases have increased year by year and show local clusters. Retrospective analysis of another 39 cases from 287 206 neonates tested at the NBS center in Heidelberg with C5 elevation (0.9-10.6 μmol/L) but clinical and biochemical exclusion of IVA yielded evidence of pivaloylcarnitine in all cases. Inclusion of a second-tier test into NBS significantly reduces the high and increasing false-positive rate of IVA screening. This avoids further diagnostic steps, prevents unnecessary stress and anxiety of parents in a remarkably high number of cases. If Hamburg data of 2021 are extrapolated to all of Germany, one can assume around 800 (1‰) false-positive cases in comparison to an average of two classic IVA cases per year. Unless licensing of pivaloylester-containing drugs for use during pregnancy is reconsidered, a second-tier test for C5 determination is indispensable.

Communication of an Abnormal Metabolic New-Born Screening Result in The Netherlands: The Parental Perspective

In the Netherlands, abnormal New-Born Screening (NBS) results are communicated to parents by the general practitioner (GP). Good communication and consequential trust in professionals is of the utmost importance in the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). The aim of this study was to assess parental satisfaction regarding the communication of an abnormal NBS result for PKU in the Netherlands. An email containing the link to a web-based questionnaire was sent by the Dutch PKU Association to their members. Responses to open questions were categorized, data of both open and closed questions were analysed with descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test using SPSS. Out of 113 parents of a child with PKU (born between 1979 and 2020), 68 stated they were overall unsatisfied with the first communication of the NBS result. Seventy-five parents indicated that wrong or no information about PKU was given. A significant decrease was found in the number of parents being contact by their own GP over the course of 40 years (p < 0.05). More than half of all parents were overall unsatisfied with the first communication of the abnormal NBS result for PKU. Further research on how to optimize communication of an abnormal NBS results is necessary.

A Simple Flow Injection Analysis-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method to Reduce False Positives of C5-Acylcarnitines Due to Pivaloylcarnitine Using Reference Ions

Flow injection analysis−tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-TMS) has been applied in a first-tier test of newborn screening (NBS). Although isovalerylcarnitine (i-C5), which is a diagnostic indicator of isovaleric acidemia (IVA), is isobaric with pivaloylcarnitine (p-C5), 2-methylbutyrylcarnitine, and n-valerylcarnitine, these isomers cannot be distinguished by the FIA-TMS. There are many reports of false positives derived from p-C5 due to the use of pivalate-conjugated antibiotics. In this study, we developed a new FIA-TMS method to distinguish i-C5 and p-C5. We found that the intensity ratio of product ions for i-C5 and p-C5 was different in a certain range even under the same analytical conditions. The product ions with the most distinct differences in ionic intensity between the isomers and the collision energies that produce them were determined to be m/z 246.2 > 187.1 and −15 V, respectively. In addition to the quantification ion, a reference ion was defined, and the similarity of the i-C5 and p-C5 reference ion ratios (i-C5 score and p-C5 score, respectively) were used to estimate which isomer (i-C5 and p-C5) was responsible for elevated C5 acylcarnitine in dried blood spots (DBSs). As a result of analyses of 11 DBS samples derived from pivalate-conjugated antibiotics and four DBS samples from IVA patients using our method, it was found that our method was able to correctly determine the type of C5-acylcarnitine (i-C5 or p-C5) in the DBS samples. Implementation of this new FIA-TMS method into the current NBS protocol will allow for a reduction in false positives in IVA.

Biliary Atresia in 2021: Epidemiology, Screening and Public Policy

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare newborn liver disease with significant morbidity and mortality, especially if not recognized and treated early in life. It is the most common cause of liver-related death in children and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the pediatric population. Timely intervention with a Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) can significantly improve prognosis. Delayed disease recognition, late patient referral, and untimely surgery remains a worldwide problem. This article will focus on biliary atresia from a global public health perspective, including disease epidemiology, current national screening programs, and their impact on outcome, as well as new and novel BA screening initiatives. Policy challenges for the implementation of BA screening programs will also be discussed, highlighting examples from the North American, European, and Asian experience.

Development of Flow Injection Analysis Method for the Second-Tier Estimation of Succinylacetone in Dried Blood Spot of Newborn Screening

Tyrosinemia type 1 (TYR1) is a devastating aminoacidopathy, leading to mortality without medical intervention. Although, detection and quantification of tyrosine in dried blood spot (DBS) is possible, but being a non-specific marker for TYR1 and its frequent association with transient neonatal tyrosinemia limits its applicability. Despite, Succinylacetone (SUAC) being a pathognomonic marker for TYR1, but not often detectable by routine newborn screening (NBS). We envisaged to determine SUAC in DBS by an in-house flow injection analysis method on a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Succinylacetone was eluted from the residual 3.2 mm DBS of primary NBS by an extraction solution containing acetonitrile-water-formic acid mixture containing stable-isotope labelled internal standard (IS) for SUAC and hydrazine. Detection and quantification was performed by the mass spectrometer using multiple reaction monitoring mode at m/z 155.1 → 109.1 for SUAC and m/z 160.1 → 114.1 for the SUAC IS. The assay was linear over a calibration range of 0.122-117.434 µmol/L. The Intra-day and Inter-day precision and accuracy for the assay was determined at two different levels of SUAC (2.542 µmol/L and 14.641 µmol/L), which showed a coefficient of variation of (6.91% and 12.65%) and (8.57% and 12.27%) respectively. The accuracy also ranged between 101.2 and 103.87%.This method provided the necessary sensitivity, precision, accuracy, recovery and linearity and hence, has the potential to reduce the false positive, false negative results which significantly minimise the cost involved in the screening and follow up of TYR1 patients.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12291-020-00944-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Translating RDoC to Real-World Impact in Developmental Psychopathology: A Neurodevelopmental Framework for Application of Mental Health Risk Calculators

The National Institute of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria's (RDoC) has prompted a paradigm shift from categorical psychiatric disorders to considering multiple levels of vulnerability for probabilistic risk of disorder. However, the lack of neurodevelopmentally-based tools for clinical decision-making has limited RDoC's real-world impact. Integration with developmental psychopathology principles and statistical methods actualize the clinical implementation of RDoC to inform neurodevelopmental risk. In this conceptual paper, we introduce the probabilistic mental health risk calculator as an innovation for such translation and lay out a research agenda for generating an RDoC- and developmentally-informed paradigm that could be applied to predict a range of developmental psychopathologies from early childhood to young adulthood. We discuss methods that weigh the incremental utility for prediction based on intensity and burden of assessment, the addition of developmental change patterns, considerations for assessing outcomes, and integrative data approaches. Throughout, we illustrate the risk calculator approach with different neurodevelopmental pathways and phenotypes. Finally, we discuss real-world implementation of these methods for improving early identification and prevention of developmental psychopathology. We propose that mental health risk calculators can build a needed bridge between RDoC's multiple units of analysis and developmental science.

A systematic review of the outcomes of false-positive results on newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVES

The potential of harm to infants or their parents from a false positive (FP) newborn screening (NBS) result for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is often cited as an argument against lowering of screening thresholds for CH. This systematic review (SR) examines the evidence of harm and factors that possibly contribute.

STUDY DESIGN

PRISMA guidelines were followed and the protocol was registered online (Prospero, ID CRD42019123950, 20 August 2019) before the search was conducted. Multiple electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Articles were included/excluded based on predetermined eligibility criteria. Included articles were appraised for quality, using the relevant Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool. Data were extracted and results were tabulated and summarised as part of a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria. All were qualitative and three were based on the same cohort. Studies were published between 1983 and 1996. CASP appraisals scored 2/6 studies as moderate quality and 4/6 as low quality. Studies reported that FP results on CH screening may cause initial stress for parents and poorly defined behavioural disturbance in a small number of children, though these effects were generally not long-lasting. Poor screening processes and inadequate communication with parents, increased the risk of harm to parents and children, from FP results.

CONCLUSION

This SR found a small number of dated, qualitative studies of low to moderate quality, conducted soon after the initiation of NBS for CH. Conclusive evidence of the risks of harm from FP results and ways to mitigate harm, awaits further, well-designed studies.

Second Tier Testing to Reduce the Number of Non-actionable Secondary Findings and False-Positive Referrals in Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

PURPOSE

Newborn screening (NBS) for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is based on the detection of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). TRECs are a sensitive biomarker for T-cell lymphopenia, but not specific for SCID. This creates a palette of secondary findings associated with low T-cells that require follow-up and treatment or are non-actionable. The high rate of (non-actionable) secondary findings and false-positive referrals raises questions about the harm-benefit-ratio of SCID screening, as referrals are associated with high emotional impact and anxiety for parents.

METHODS

An alternative quantitative TREC PCR with different primers was performed on NBS cards of referred newborns (N = 56) and epigenetic immune cell counting was used as for relative quantification of CD3 + T-cells (N = 59). Retrospective data was used to determine the reduction in referrals with a lower TREC cutoff value or an adjusted screening algorithm.

RESULTS

When analyzed with a second PCR with different primers, 45% of the referrals (25/56) had TREC levels above cutoff, including four false-positive cases in which two SNPs were identified. With epigenetic qPCR, 41% (24/59) of the referrals were within the range of the relative CD3 + T-cell counts of the healthy controls. Lowering the TREC cutoff value or adjusting the screening algorithm led to lower referral rates but did not prevent all false-positive referrals.

CONCLUSIONS

Second tier tests and adjustments of cutoff values or screening algorithms all have the potential to reduce the number of non-actionable secondary findings in NBS for SCID, although second tier tests are more effective in preventing false-positive referrals.

Psychosocial Effect of Newborn Genomic Sequencing on Families in the BabySeq Project: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Newborn genomic sequencing (nGS) may provide health benefits throughout the life span, but there are concerns that it could also have an unfavorable (ie, negative) psychosocial effect on families.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the psychosocial effect of nGS on families from the BabySeq Project, a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of nGS on the clinical care of newborns from well-baby nurseries and intensive care units.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this randomized clinical trial conducted from May 14, 2015, to May 21, 2019, at well-baby nurseries and intensive care units at 3 Boston, Massachusetts, area hospitals, 519 parents of 325 infants completed surveys at enrollment, immediately after disclosure of nGS results, and 3 and 10 months after results disclosure. Statistical analysis was performed on a per-protocol basis from January 16, 2019, to December 1, 2019.

INTERVENTION

Newborns were randomized to receive either standard newborn screening and a family history report (control group) or the same plus an nGS report of childhood-onset conditions and highly actionable adult-onset conditions (nGS group).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Mean responses were compared between groups and, within the nGS group, between parents of children who received a monogenic disease risk finding and those who did not in 3 domains of psychosocial impact: parent-child relationship (Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale), parents' relationship (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale), and parents' psychological distress (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale anxiety subscale).

RESULTS

A total of 519 parents (275 women [53.0%]; mean [SD] age, 35.1 [4.5] years) were included in this study. Although mean scores differed for some outcomes at singular time points, generalized estimating equations models did not show meaningful differences in parent-child relationship (between-group difference in adjusted mean [SE] Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale scores: postdisclosure, 0.04 [0.15]; 3 months, -0.18 [0.18]; 10 months, -0.07 [0.20]; joint P = .57) or parents' psychological distress (between-group ratio of adjusted mean [SE] Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale anxiety subscale scores: postdisclosure, 1.04 [0.08]; 3 months, 1.07 [0.11]; joint P = .80) response patterns between study groups over time for any measures analyzed in these 2 domains. Response patterns on one parents' relationship measure differed between groups over time (between-group difference in adjusted mean [SE] Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale scores: postdisclosure, -0.19 [0.07]; 3 months, -0.04 [0.07]; and 10 months, -0.01 [0.08]; joint P = .02), but the effect decreased over time and no difference was observed on the conflict measure responses over time. We found no evidence of persistent negative psychosocial effect in any domain.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this randomized clinical trial of nGS, there was no persistent negative psychosocial effect on families among those who received nGS nor among those who received a monogenic disease risk finding for their infant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02422511.

A qualitative assessment of parental experiences with false-positive newborn screening for Krabbe disease

Numerous US states have implemented newborn screening for Krabbe disease (Krabbe NBS) as a result of legislative state mandates. While healthcare provider opinions toward Krabbe NBS have been documented, few studies have explored parental experiences and opinions regarding Krabbe NBS. Eleven families, who received a false-positive Krabbe NBS result and received genetic counseling at an institution in central Ohio, were consented to participate in semistructured interviews. Interviews explored parents' experiences throughout the NBS process and ascertained their opinions regarding Krabbe NBS. Three major themes emerged from thematic analysis: (1) improved understanding of the NBS process from a parent perspective, (2) the role of healthcare provider communication, and (3) the value of Krabbe NBS. Parents saw value in Krabbe NBS, despite many disclosing emotional distress and uncertainty throughout the NBS process. Parent experiences throughout the NBS process varied widely. Due to the expressed emotional distress, further research assessing effective communication during the NBS process is warranted. The researchers suggest additional NBS education for non-genetics healthcare providers (i.e., nurses or primary care physicians) and further participation of genetic counselors in the NBS process may benefit families with a positive Krabbe NBS result.

Association of elevated neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels with school performance and stimulant prescription for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood

Untreated severe newborn thyroid deficiency causes neurocognitive impairment; however, the impact of mild thyroid deficiency is not known. This study aimed to examine whether mildly elevated neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with poor school performance or stimulant prescription for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This record-linkage study included 232,790 term-born infants in Australia with a TSH level below newborn screening threshold (< 15 mIU/L). Among our cohort, as TSH levels increased, the proportion of infants born low birthweight via caesarean section and with disadvantaged socioeconomic status increased. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with infants with 'normal' neonatal TSH level (< 5 mIU/L), those with neonatal TSH 10-15 mIU/L had an increased risk of being exempt from school testing (aOR 1.63 (95% CI 1.06-2.69)) or prescribed a stimulant for ADHD (aOR 1.57 (95% CI 1.10-2.24)), adjusted for perinatal and sociodemographic factors. Among a nested analysis of 460 sibling pairs, siblings with 'mildly elevated' TSH levels were more likely to be exempt from school tests compared with siblings with normal TSH levels (aOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.01-6.33).Conclusion: In this population cohort and sibling analysis, mildly elevated neonatal TSH levels were associated with being exempt from school testing due to significant or complex disability. What is Known: • Newborn screening for severe thyroid hormone deficiency has virtually eliminated congenital hypothyroidism-associated intellectual disability in developed countries. • The impact of mild thyroid hormone deficiency in infants is unclear. What is New: • Children with a mildly elevated neonatal TSH level below current newborn screening cut-offs have an increased likelihood of being exempt from school testing due to significant or complex disability compared with siblings and peers. This study includes a population-based and nested sibling analysis.

Informing Parents about Newborn Screening: A European Comparison Study

Knowledge about newborn screening (NBS) is an important factor for parents to make an informed decision about participation. In Europe, countries inform parents differently about their NBS program, potentially including different knowledge aspects in their information. The aim of this study was to assess twenty-six European parental information products and to analyze their knowledge aspects through a content analysis. The analyzed aspects were compared to a list of eight knowledge aspects from scientific literature. The list includes aspects important for parents' decision-making, such as the purpose of screening. The study showed that most of the eight knowledge aspects are included in NBS information products of the majority of countries. However, there were differences between countries, for example in the amount of detail and phrasing of the information. Additional relevant knowledge aspects have also been identified and are recommended to optimize information products, such as the handling of residual bloodspot samples. This study only assessed knowledge aspects in information products meant for printing, but many countries also use other communication methods, and the impact on knowledge of the delivery of the information needs further study. Preferences of parents on alternative communication methods need to be considered and evaluated on their effectiveness.

Ethical and Psychosocial Implications of Genomic Newborn Screening

The potential for genomic screening of the newborn, specifically adding genomic screening to current newborn screening (NBS), raises very significant ethical issues. Regardless of whether NBS of this type would include entire genomes or only the coding region of the genome (exome screening) or even sequencing specific genes, the ethical issues raised would be enormous. These issues include the limitations of bioinformatic interpretation of identified variants in terms of pathogenicity and accurate prognosis, the potential for substantial uncertainty about appropriate diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up, the possibility of much anxiety among providers and parents, the potential for unnecessary treatment and "medicalizing" normal children, the possibility of adding large medical costs for otherwise unnecessary follow-up and testing, the potential for negatively impacting medical and life insurance, and the almost impossible task of obtaining truly-informed consent. Moreover, the potentially-negative consequences of adding genomic sequencing to NBS might jeopardize all of NBS which has been and continues to be so beneficial for thousands of children and their families throughout the world.

Expanding Neonatal Bloodspot Screening: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective

Neonatal bloodspot screening (NBS) aims to detect treatable disorders in newborns. The number of conditions included in the screening is expanding through technological and therapeutic developments, which can result in health gain for more newborns. NBS expansion, however, also poses healthcare, ethical and societal challenges. This qualitative study explores a multi-stakeholders' perspective on current and future expansions of NBS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 Dutch professionals, including healthcare professionals, test developers and policy makers, and 17 parents of children with normal and abnormal NBS results. Addressed themes were (1) benefits and challenges of current expansion, (2) expectations regarding future developments, and (3) NBS acceptance and consent procedures. Overall, participants had a positive attitude toward NBS expansion, as long as it is aimed at detecting treatable disorders and achieving health gain. Concerns were raised regarding an increase in results of uncertain significance, diagnosing asymptomatic mothers, screening of subgroups ("males only"), finding untreatable disorders, along with increasingly complex consent procedures. Regarding the scope of future NBS expansions, two types of stakeholder perspectives emerged. Stakeholders with a "targeted-scope" perspective saw health gain for the neonate as the exclusive NBS aim. They thought pre-test information could be limited, and parents should be protected against too much options or information. Stakeholders with a "broad-scope" perspective thought the NBS aim should be formulated broader, for example, also taking (reproductive) life planning into account. They put more emphasis on individual preferences and parental autonomy. Policy-makers should engage with both perspectives when making further decisions about NBS.

Parents' Perspectives and Societal Acceptance of Implementation of Newborn Screening for SCID in the Netherlands

Purpose

While neonatal bloodspot screening (NBS) for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has been introduced more than a decade ago, implementation in NBS programs remains challenging in many countries. Even if high-quality test methods and follow-up care are available, public uptake and parental acceptance are not guaranteed. The aim of this study was to describe the parental perspective on NBS for SCID in the context of an implementation pilot. Psychosocial aspects have never been studied before for NBS for SCID and are important for societal acceptance, a major criterion when introducing new disorders in NBS programs.

Methods

To evaluate the perspective of parents, interviews were conducted with parents of newborns with abnormal SCID screening results (N = 17). In addition, questionnaires about NBS for SCID were sent to 2000 parents of healthy newborns who either participated or declined participation in the SONNET-study that screened 140,593 newborns for SCID.

Results

Support for NBS for SCID was expressed by the majority of parents in questionnaires from both a public health perspective and a personal perspective. Parents emphasized the emotional impact of an abnormal screening result in interviews. (Long-term) stress and anxiety can be experienced during and after referral indicating the importance of uniform follow-up protocols and adequate information provision.

Conclusion

The perspective of parents has led to several recommendations for NBS programs that are considering screening for SCID or other disorders. A close partnership of NBS programs’ stakeholders, immunologists, geneticists, and pediatricians-immunologists in different countries is required for moving towards universal SCID screening for all infants.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10875-020-00886-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Regulatory landscape of providing information on newborn screening to parents across Europe

Newborn screening (NBS) is an important part of public healthcare systems in many countries. The provision of information to parents about NBS is now recognised as an integral part of the screening process. Informing parents on all aspects of screening helps to achieve the benefits, promote trust and foster support for NBS. Therefore, policies and guidelines should exist to govern how the information about NBS is provided to parents, taking into account evidence-based best practices. The purpose of our survey was to explore whether any legally binding provisions, guidelines or recommendations existed pertaining to the provision of information about NBS to parents across Europe. Questions were designed to determine the regulatory process of when, by whom and how parents should be informed about screening. Twenty-seven countries participated in the survey. The results indicated that most countries had some sort of legal framework or guidelines for the provision of information to parents. However, only 37% indicated that the provision of information was required prenatally. The majority of countries were verbally informing parents with the aid of written materials postnatally, just prior to sample collection. Information was provided by a neonatologist, midwife or nurse. A website dedicated to NBS was available for 67% of countries and 89% had written materials about NBS for parents. The survey showed that there is a lack of harmonisation among European countries in the provision of information about NBS and emphasised the need for more comprehensive guidelines at the European level.

Considering Proximal Urea Cycle Disorders in Expanded Newborn Screening

Proximal urea cycle disorders (PUCDs) have adverse outcomes such as intellectual disability and death, which may benefit from newborn screening (NBS) through early detection and prevention with early treatment. Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency (CPS1D) are screened in six and eight states in the United States. We analyzed current evidence to see if it supports inclusion of PUCDs in the NBS panels based upon prevention potential, medical, diagnostic, treatment, and public health rationales. A literature review was performed in PubMed using MESH terms for OTCD, CPS1D, and NAGSD. A systematic review was performed in the hallmark of NBS inclusion criteria. We reviewed 31 articles. Molecular and biochemical diagnosis is available to provide diagnostic evidence. Untreated PUCDs have a significant burden with considerable developmental delay and mortality that may improve with early treatment. Tandem mass spectrometry can be used for NBS for PUCDs; however, citrulline and glutamine alone are not specific. Medical treatments currently available for PUCDs meet existing medical, diagnostic, treatment, and public health rationales. Improvement in NBS algorithms to increase sensitivity and specificity will allow earlier diagnosis and treatment to potentially improve disability and mortality rates.

Effect of newborn screening for critical CHD on healthcare utilisation

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of state-mandated policies for pulse oximetry screening on healthcare utilisation, with a focus on use of echocardiograms.

DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING

Healthcare Cost and Utilisation Project, Statewide Inpatient Databases from 2008 to 2014 from six states.

METHODS

We defined pre- and post-mandate cohorts based on dates when pulse oximetry became mandated in each state. Linear segmented regression models for interrupted time series assessed associations between implementation of the screening and changes in rate of newborns with Critical CHD-negative echocardiogram results. We also evaluated the changes in rate of newborns who underwent echocardiogram but were not diagnosed with any health issues that could cause hypoxemia.

RESULTS

We identified 5967 critical CHD-negative echocardiograms (2847 and 3120 in the pre- and post-mandate periods, respectively). Our models detected a statistically significant increasing trend in rate of critical CHD-negative echocardiograms in the pre-mandate period (Incidence Rate Ratio: 1.08, p = 0.02), but did not detect any statistical differences in changes between pre- and post-mandate periods (Incidence Rate Ratio: 0.93, p = 0.14). Among non-Whites, an increasing trend of Critical CHD-negative echocardiogram during the pre-mandate period was detected (Incidence Rate Ratio 1.12, p < 0.01) and was attenuated during the post-mandate period (Incidence Rate Ratio 0.89, p = 0.02). Similar results were observed in the sensitivity analyses among both Whites and non-Whites.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that mandatory state screening policies are associated with reductions in false-positive screening rates for hypoxemic conditions, with reductions primarily attributed to trends among non-Whites.

Effect of blood volume on analytical bias in dried blood spots prepared for newborn screening external quality assurance

Aim: Dried blood spots (DBS) are used for the analysis of more than 2000 biomarkers. We assessed a range of analyte concentrations and diameters of DBS. Materials & methods: DBS samples were created by the application of increasing volumes of whole blood prepared by the UK NEQAS Quality Assurance Laboratory. Samples were analyzed in four separate laboratories. Results: Volumes less than 25 μl (8 mm) and more than 75 μl (14 mm) created unsatisfactory analytical biases. Results obtained from peripheral subpunches tended to be higher than those from a central subpunch. Conclusion: DBS diameters formed from nonvolumetric application of blood to filter paper can be used to assess whether measurement bias will be within acceptable limits according to the analyte being quantified. DBS received for newborn screening in the UK with diameters less than 8 mm and those more than 14 mm should be rejected.

Justifying the Expansion of Neonatal Screening: Two Cases

During the last two decades, neonatal screening in Europe and North America has expanded substantially. This article examines two recent suggestions for expanding neonatal screening: severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). With reference to well-established risk-benefit based rationales for screening, it is argued that the case for introducing SCID in neonatal screening is considerably stronger than for introducing X-ALD. For instance, the majority of those screened for X-ALD most likely have a negative risk-benefit ratio of screening: they develop milder symptoms or perhaps no symptoms at all, while still being monitored for a long time. This argument is used as a vehicle for making some general points regarding justified expansions of neonatal screening. First, when considering the expansion of neonatal screening, we should look at a condition specific case-by-case basis. Moreover, future expansions of neonatal screening should stick to the well-established rationales for screening while avoiding risk-benefit slippage. Otherwise, more strict procedures of informed consent are warranted in neonatal screening, procedures that, in the end, risk undermining the benefits of current neonatal screening programmes.

Parents' experience with positive newborn screening results for cystic fibrosis

In Germany, screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) is part of the newborn screening since September 2016. The risk of psychological harm due to false-positive screening results is a longstanding concern. We investigated the parents' perception of the CF screening process in Bavaria and the communication after positive screening results with a questionnaire. Until August 2018, 192 children went through a final diagnostic testing after a positive CF screening result, and 105 (54.7%) families completed the questionnaire. Of these, only 30 parents obtained information about the newborn screening by a physician, despite this being mandatory in Germany. Parents being informed by a CF specialist (28.6%) about the positive screening result were more satisfied with the given information (80.0 versus 50% informed by the maternity ward), and the delay until the final diagnostic testing was shorter. More than 3 days between the information about the screening result and the diagnostic testing was too long for 77.7% of the families.Conclusion: Performing final diagnostic testing with only short delays and receiving satisfactory information is important. Therefore, parents should be informed directly by a CF center about positive screening results and only when sweat testing is possible within the next days. What is Known: • The risk of psychological harm due to false-positive screening results is a longstanding concern. • Satisfactory information about the positive CF screening result seem to reduce the parental stress. What is New: • Parents being informed directly by a CF specialist were more satisfied with the given information and the delay until the final diagnostic testing was shorter. • Our data support the concept that parents should better be informed directly by a CF specialist about positive screening results and only when sweat testing is possible within the next days to reduce parental stress.

Including Classical Galactosaemia in the Expanded Newborn Screening Panel Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Galactose-1-Phosphate

Galactosaemia has been included in various newborn screening programs since 1963. Several methods are used for screening; however, the predominant methods used today are based on the determination of either galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) activity or the concentration of total galactose. These methods cannot be multiplexed and therefore require one full punch per sample. Since the introduction of mass spectrometry in newborn screening, many diseases have been included in newborn screening programs. Here, we present a method for including classical galactosaemia in an expanded newborn screening panel based on the specific determination of galactose-1-phosphate by tandem mass spectrometry. The existing workflow only needs minor adjustments, and it can be run on the tandem mass spectrometers in routine use. Furthermore, compared to the currently used methods, this novel method has a superior screening performance, producing significantly fewer false positive results. We present data from 5500 routine newborn screening samples from the Danish Neonatal Screening Biobank. The cohort was enriched by including 14 confirmed galactosaemia positive samples and 10 samples positive for other metabolic disorders diagnosed through the Danish newborn screening program. All galactosaemia positive samples were identified by the method with no false positives. Furthermore, the screening performance for other metabolic disorders was unaffected.

Qualitative Research on Expanded Prenatal and Newborn Screening: Robust but Marginalized

If I told you that screening technologies are iteratively transforming how people experience pregnancy and early parenting, you might take notice. If I mentioned that a new class of newborn patients was being created and that particular forms of parental vigilance were emerging, you might want to know more. If I described how the particular stories told about screening in public, combined with parents' fierce commitment to safeguarding their children's health, make it difficult for problematic experiences with screening to translate into negative opinions about it, you would most likely be intrigued. An extensive qualitative literature documents all these social phenomena, and more, in connection with the spread of prenatal and newborn screening. So why is it, then, that commentators frequently assert that the predicted psychosocial impact of increased screening and testing associated with "the genomic revolution" has been far less severe and worthy of attention than predicted? How can or should social science "evidence" that sits outside adopted measurement conventions be considered? Why is it that summary statements about the psychosocial impact of genomic information often ignore qualitative evidence, or sideline it as relevant only for improving communication among patients, clinicians, and public health systems? This essay addresses such questions, using qualitative research on prenatal and newborn screening as a case study for illustrating the broad methodological, ideological, and dialogical issues at stake.

Nurses' experiences of screening for communication difficulties at 18 months of age

AIM

Early identification of communication disorders is important and may be possible through screening in the child health services. The aim of the study was to investigate nurses' experiences and sense of competence when using the Infant-Toddler Checklist (ITC) communication screening at the 18-month health visit.

METHODS

A mixed-methods design including three focus group interviews (n = 14) and a web-based survey (n = 22) among nurses using the ITC or the standard method. Interview data were analysed through systematic text condensation and a deductive analysis based on implementation theory. Groups were compared using Mann-Whitney tests.

RESULT

Three themes emerged: Using a structured evaluation of communication changes, the dynamic, ITC is a beneficial tool and Implementation of the ITC faces a few challenges. Nurses who used the ITC perceived to a greater extent that they used a structured method (p = 0.003, r = 0.9) and felt more secure in describing the child's communication and language development to parents (p = 0.006, r = 0.83) compared to the standard method group.

CONCLUSION

Using the ITC supported the nurses in their assessment of communication at 18 months. Nurses' sense of competence was higher when using the ITC, both in their assessment and in communicating with parents.

Consumer Satisfaction with Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening in a Midwifery-Led Maternity Setting

Pulse oximetry screening to detect hypoxaemia in newborn infants was introduced at birthing facilities in New Zealand during a feasibility study determining barriers and enablers to universal screening in a midwifery-led maternity system focused on community values and partnership with, and participation by, consumers. During the 2-year study period, parents of infants who underwent pulse oximetry screening were invited to complete a written survey to investigate consumer satisfaction. Respondents ranked their satisfaction with the test and with information resources on a five-level Likert scale. Additional comments were added in a free text space. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. A total of 657 surveys were included for analysis. Consumers were satisfied with the screening procedure; 94% either agreed or strongly agreed that it is an important health check. Although the quality of information sources was deemed good, a third of participants indicated a wish to obtain more information. Some participants stated that retention of information was an issue, reporting that they were fatigued following the birth. Consumers are receptive to pulse oximetry screening. Sharing information (while considering the receptivity of parents) and engaging the parents of newborn infants are factors that are paramount to the success of newborn screening initiatives.

Newborn Screening for Primary Congenital Hypothyroidism: Estimating Test Performance at Different TSH Thresholds

CONTEXT

Active surveillance of primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a multiethnic population with established newborn bloodspot screening.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate performance of newborn screening for CH at different test thresholds and calculate incidence of primary CH.

DESIGN

Prospective surveillance from June 2011 to June 2012 with 3-year follow-up of outcomes. Relative likelihood ratios (rLRs) estimated to compare bloodspot TSH test thresholds of 6 mU/L and 8 mU/L, with the nationally recommended standard of 10 mU/L for a presumptive positive result.

SETTING

UK National Health Service.

PATIENTS

Clinician notification of children aged <5 years investigated following clinical presentation or presumptive positive screening result.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Permanent primary CH status determined by clinician report of continuing T4 requirement at 3-year follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 629 newborns (58.3% girls; 58.7% white ethnicity) were investigated following presumptive positive screening result and 21 children (52.4% girls; 52.4% white) after clinical presentation; 432 remained on treatment at 3-year follow-up. Permanent CH incidence was 5.3 (95% CI, 4.8 to 5.8) per 10,000 infants. With use of locally applied thresholds, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were 96.76%, 99.97%, and 66.88%, respectively. Compared with a TSH threshold of 10 mU/L, positive rLRs for 8 mU/L and 6 mU/L were 1.20 (95% CI, 0.82 to 1.75) and 0.52 (95% CI, 0.38 to 0.72), and negative rLRs were 0.11 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.36) and 0.11 (95% CI, 0.06 to 0.20), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening program performance is good, but a TSH threshold of 8 mU/L appears superior to the current national standard (10 mU/L) and requires further evaluation. Further research should explore the implications of transient CH for screening policy.

Families' Experiences with Newborn Screening: A Critical Source of Evidence

Debates about expanding newborn screening with whole genome sequencing are fueled by data about public perception, public opinion, and the positions taken by public advocates and advocacy groups. One form of evidence that merits attention as we consider possible uses of whole-genome sequencing during the newborn period is parents' (and children's) diverse experiences with existing expanded screening protocols. What do we know about this experience base? And what implications might these data have for decisions about how we use whole genome sequencing and how we assess its impact in the future? Although the broader literature on genetic susceptibility testing suggests that testing usually does not have adverse effects on children's psychosocial well-being, certain newborn screening results have been demonstrated to cause distress, alter behavior, and even to influence the formation of new parental and family identities.

Including ELSI research questions in newborn screening pilot studies

BACKGROUND

The evidence review processes for adding new conditions to state newborn screening (NBS) panels rely on data from pilot studies aimed at assessing the potential benefits and harms of screening. However, the consideration of ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of screening within this research has been limited. This paper outlines important ELSI issues related to newborn screening policy and practices as a resource to help researchers integrate ELSI into NBS pilot studies.

APPROACH

Members of the Bioethics and Legal Workgroup for the Newborn Screening Translational Research Network facilitated a series of professional and public discussions aimed at engaging NBS stakeholders to identify important existing and emerging ELSI challenges accompanying NBS.

RESULTS

Through these engagement activities, we identified a set of key ELSI questions related to (1) the types of results parents may receive through newborn screening and (2) the initiation and implementation of NBS for a condition within the NBS system.

CONCLUSION

Integrating ELSI questions into pilot studies will help NBS programs to better understand the potential impact of screening for a new condition on newborns and families, and make crucial policy decisions aimed at maximized benefits and mitigating the potential negative medical or social implications of screening.

Provision of information about newborn screening antenatally: a sequential exploratory mixed-methods project

BACKGROUND

Participation in the UK Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NBSP) requires parental consent but concerns exist about whether or not this happens in practice and the best methods and timing to obtain consent at reasonable cost.

OBJECTIVES

To collate all possible modes of prescreening communication and consent for newborn (neonatal) screening (NBS); examine midwives', screening professionals' and users' views about the feasibility, efficiency and impact on understanding of each; measure midwives' and parents' preferences for information provision; and identify key drivers of cost-effectiveness for alternative modes of information provision.

DESIGN

Six study designs were used: (1) realist review - to generate alternative communication and consent models; (2) qualitative interviews with parents and health professionals - to examine the implications of current practice for understanding and views on alternative models; (3) survey and observation of midwives - to establish current costs; (4) stated preference surveys with midwives, parents and potential future parents - to establish preferences for information provision; (5) economic analysis - to identify cost-effectiveness drivers of alternative models; and (6) stakeholder validation focus groups and interviews - to examine the acceptability, views and broader impact of alternative communication and consent models.

SETTING

Providers and users of NBS in England.

PARTICIPANTS

Study 2: 45 parents and 37 health professionals; study 3: 22 midwives and eight observations; study 4: 705 adults aged 18-45 years and 134 midwives; and study 6: 12 health-care professionals and five parents.

RESULTS

The realist review identified low parental knowledge and evidence of coercive consent practices. Interview, focus group and stated preference data suggested a preference for full information, with some valuing this more than choice. Health professionals preferred informed choice models but parents and health professionals queried whether or not current consent was fully informed. Barriers to using leaflets effectively were highlighted. All studies indicated that a 'personalised' approach to NBS communication, allowing parents to select the mode and level of information suited to their learning needs, could have added value. A personalised approach should rely on midwife communication and should occur in the third trimester. Overall awareness was identified as requiring improvement. Starting NBS communication by alerting parents that they have a choice to make and telling them that samples could be stored are both likely to enhance engagement. The methods of information provision and maternal anxiety causing additional visits to health-care professionals were the drivers of relative cost-effectiveness. Lack of data to populate an economic analysis, confirmed by value of information analysis, indicated a need for further research.

LIMITATIONS

There are some limitations with regard to the range of participants used in studies 2 and 3 and so caution should be exercised when interpreting some of the results.

CONCLUSIONS

This project highlighted the importance of focusing on information receipt and identified key communication barriers. Health professionals strongly preferred informed consent, which parents endorsed if they were made aware of sample storage. Uniform models of information provision were perceived as ineffective. A choice of information provision was supported by health professionals and parents, which both enhances cost-effectiveness and improves engagement, understanding and the validity of consent. Remaining uncertainties suggest that more research is needed before new communication modes are introduced into practice. Future research should measure the impact of the suggested practice changes (informing in third trimester, information toolkits, changed role of midwife).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN70227207.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 21, No. 55. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Recommendations for newborn screening for galactokinase deficiency: A systematic review and evaluation of Dutch newborn screening data

INTRODUCTION

Galactokinase (GALK) deficiency causes cataract leading to severe developmental consequences unless treated early. Because of the easy prevention and rapid reversibility of cataract with treatment, the Dutch Health Council advised to include GALK deficiency in the Dutch newborn screening program. The aim of this study is to establish the optimal screening method and cut-off value (COV) for GALK deficiency screening by performing a systematic review of the literature of screening strategies and total galactose (TGAL) values and by evaluating TGAL values in the first week of life in a cohort of screened newborns in the Netherlands.

METHODS

Systematic literature search strategies in OVID MEDLINE and OVID EMBASE were developed and study selection, data collection and analyses were performed by two independent investigators. A range of TGAL values measured by the Quantase Neonatal Total Galactose screening assay in a cohort of Dutch newborns in 2007 was evaluated.

RESULTS

Eight publications were included in the systematic review. All four studies describing screening strategies used TGAL as the primary screening marker combined with galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) measurement that is used for classical galactosemia screening. TGAL COVs of 2200 μmol/L, 1665 μmol/L and 1110 μmol/L blood resulted in positive predictive values (PPV) of 100%, 82% and 10% respectively. TGAL values measured in the newborn period were reported for 39 GALK deficiency patients with individual values ranging from 3963 to 8159 μmol/L blood and 2 group values with mean 8892 μmol/L blood (SD ± 5243) and 4856 μmol/L blood (SD ± 461). Dutch newborn screening data of 72,786 newborns from 2007 provided a median TGAL value of 110 μmol/L blood with a range of 30-2431 μmol/L blood.

CONCLUSION

Based on TGAL values measured in GALK deficiency patients reported in the literature and TGAL measurements in the Dutch cohort by newborn screening we suggest to perform the GALK screening with TGAL as a primary marker with a COV of 2500 μmol/L blood, combined with GALT enzyme activity measurement as used in the classical galactosemia screening, to ensure detection of GALK deficiency patients and minimize false positive referrals.

Using Decision Analysis to Support Newborn Screening Policy Decisions: A Case Study for Pompe Disease

Background: Newborn screening is a public health program to identify conditions associated with significant morbidity or mortality that benefit from early intervention. Policy decisions about which conditions to include in newborn screening are complex because data regarding epidemiology and outcomes of early identification are often incomplete. Objectives: To describe expected outcomes of Pompe disease newborn screening and how a decision analysis informed recommendations by a federal advisory committee. Methods: We developed a decision tree to compare Pompe disease newborn screening with clinical identification of Pompe disease in the absence of screening. Cases of Pompe disease were classified into three types: classic infantile-onset disease with cardiomyopathy, nonclassic infantile-onset disease, and late-onset disease. Screening results and 36-month health outcomes were projected for classic and nonclassic infantile-onset cases. Input parameters were based on published and unpublished data supplemented by expert opinion. Results: We estimated that screening 4 million babies born each year in the United States would detect 40 cases (range: 13–56) of infantile-onset Pompe disease compared with 36 cases (range: 13–56) detected clinically without screening. Newborn screening would also identify 94 cases of late-onset Pompe disease that might not become symptomatic for decades. By 36 months, newborn screening would avert 13 deaths (range: 8–19) and decrease the number of individuals requiring mechanical ventilation by 26 (range: 20–28). Conclusions: Pompe disease is a rare condition, but early identification can improve health outcomes. Decision analytic modeling provided a quantitative data synthesis that informed the recommendation of Pompe disease newborn screening.

Using the ages and stages questionnaire in the general population as a measure for identifying children not at risk of a neurodevelopmental disorder

Background

Early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) enables access to early interventions for children. We assess the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)’s ability to identify children with a NDD in population data.

Method

Children 4 to 5 years old in the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) from cycles 5 to 8 were included. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for the ASQ at 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 and 42 months. Fixed effects regression analyses assessed longitudinal associations between domain scores and child age.

Results

Specificity for the ASQ was high with 1SD or 2SD cutoffs, indicating good accuracy in detecting children who will not develop a NDD, however the sensitivity varied over time points and cut-offs. Sensitivity for the 1 SD cutoff at 24 months was above the recommended value of 70% for screening. Differences in ASQ domains scores between children with and without NDD increases with age.

Conclusions

The high specificity and negative predictive values of the ASQ support its use in identifying children who are not at the risk of developing a NDD. The capacity of the ASQ to identify children with a NDD in the general population is limited except for the ASQ-24 months with 1SD and can be used to identify children at risk of NDD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-018-1105-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Raising Awareness of False Positive Newborn Screening Results Arising from Pivalate-Containing Creams and Antibiotics in Europe When Screening for Isovaleric Acidaemia

While the early and asymptomatic recognition of treatable conditions offered by newborn screening confers clear health benefits for the affected child, the clinical referral of patients with screen positive results can cause significant harm for some families. The use of pivalate-containing antibiotics and more recently the inclusion of neopentanoate as a component within moisturising creams used as nipple balms by nursing mothers can result in a significant number of false positive results when screening for isovaleric acidaemia (IVA) by measuring C5 acylcarnitine. A recent survey conducted within centres from nine countries indicated that this form of contamination had been or was a significant confounding factor in the detection of IVA in seven of the nine who responded. In three of these seven the prominent cause was believed to derive from the use of moisturising creams and in another three from antibiotics containing pivalate; one country reported that the cause was mixed. As a result, four of these seven centres routinely perform second tier testing to resolve C5 isobars when an initial C5 result is elevated, and a fifth is considering making this change within their national programme. The use of creams containing neopentanoate by nursing mothers and evolving patterns in the prescription of pivalate-containing antibiotics during pregnancy require those involved in the design and operation of newborn screening programmes used to detect IVA and the doctors who receive clinical referrals from these programmes to maintain an awareness of the potential impact of this form of interference on patient results.

Psychosocial impact on mothers receiving expanded newborn screening results

Expanded newborn screening (NBS) for genetic disorders has improved diagnosis of numerous treatable diseases, positively impacting children's health outcomes. However, research about the psychological impact of expanded NBS on families, especially mothers, has been mixed. Our study examined associations between maternal experiences of expanded NBS and subsequent psychosocial functioning and parenting stress in mothers whose infants received either true negative (TN), true positive (TP) or false positive (FP) results after a 4- to 6-month period. The Parenting Stress Index and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used to assess symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression in 3 sets of mothers, whose infants received TN (n = 31), TP (n = 8) or FP (n = 18) results. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) results revealed no significant differences among these three groups of mothers regarding overall anxiety, stress and depression. However, FP mothers experienced lower levels of stress related to their own health compared to TN group. Two potential trends were also identified; results suggested TN mothers might experience higher levels of isolation than mothers in the TP group and that FP mothers might report higher stress levels in relation to spousal relationships compared to the TN group. FP mothers seemed to report similar or better levels of psychosocial functioning than TN mothers. Our findings are encouraging with respect to impacts of NBS on maternal well-being. We also identify key areas for improvement (parental education) and research (isolation and spousal relationships).

False-Positive Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis and Health Care Use

OBJECTIVES

Evidence is mixed regarding the impact of false-positive (FP) newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) results on health care use. Using cystic fibrosis (CF) as an example, we determined the association of FP NBS results with health care use in infants and their mothers in Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study of all infants with FP CF results (N = 1564) and screen-negative matched controls (N = 6256) born between April 2008 and November 2012 using linked health administrative data. Outcomes included maternal and infant physician and emergency visits and inpatient hospitalizations from the infant's third to 15th month of age. Negative binomial regression tested associations of NBS status with outcomes, adjusting for infant and maternal characteristics.

RESULTS

A greater proportion of infants with FP results had >2 outpatient visits (16.2% vs 13.2%) and >2 hospital admissions (1.5% vs 0.7%) compared with controls; CF-related admissions and emergency department visits were not different from controls. Differences persisted after adjustment, with higher rates of outpatient visits (relative risk 1.39; 95% confidence interval 1.20-1.60) and hospital admissions (relative risk 1.67; 95% confidence interval 1.21-2.31) for FP infants. Stratified models indicated the effect of FP status was greater among those whose primary care provider was a pediatrician. No differences in health care use among mothers were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher use of outpatient services among FP infants may relate to a lengthy confirmatory testing process or follow-up carrier testing. However, increased rates of hospitalization might signal heightened perceptions of vulnerability among healthy infants.

Newborn Thyroid Screening: Influence of Pre-Analytic Variables on Dried Blood Spot Thyrotropin Measurement

BACKGROUND

Measuring thyrotropin (TSH) eluted from a dried blood spot (DBS) is used to screen an estimated 30 million newborns annually for congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Newborn thyroid screening has eliminated cretinism from the industrialized world and decreased the adverse effects of unrecognized CH on neurocognitive development. Hematocrit, a pre-analytic variable that affects the measurement of TSH from a DBS, contributes to the imprecision of DBS TSH measurement and could account for false-negative and false-positive DBS newborn screening test results. To assess whether variations in hematocrit found in newborns have a clinical effect in DBS-based newborn thyroid screening, the effects of hematocrit variability on the measurement of DBS TSH were studied.

METHODS

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention procedures for manufacturing DBS performance testing standards were used to generate DBSs from blood samples, with hematocrits of 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, and 65% and serum TSH concentrations of 6.3 ± 0.4 and 26.6 ± 8.0 mIU/L. TSH was measured in the eluates of four replicate DBS 3 mm punches at each hematocrit using the Thailand Ministry of Public Health Newborn Screening Operation Center enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Based on the mixed-effects model, hematocrit significantly affected DBS TSH measurement (p < 0.001). A 1% increase in hematocrit resulted in a 0.06 mIU/L decrease in eluate TSH when TSH was 6.3 + 0.4 mIU/L, and a 0.21 mIU/L decrease in eluate TSH when TSH was 26.6 + 8.0 mIU/L.

CONCLUSIONS

DBS TSH is significantly affected by the blood sample hematocrit. The pre-analytic variability due to hematocrit is independent of TSH assay sensitivity, specificity, precision, repeatability, and reference intervals. The effect of hematocrit on DBS TSH measurement is clinically relevant, could account for geographic and ethnic variation in the incidence of CH, and may result in both false-positive and false-negative CH screening results. Individual newborn and population-specific hematocrit correction factors may improve the precision of DBS TSH measurement.

Nine years of newborn screening for classical galactosemia in the Netherlands: Effectiveness of screening methods, and identification of patients with previously unreported phenotypes

INTRODUCTION

Newborn screening (NBS) for classical galactosemia (CG) was introduced in the Netherlands in 2007. Multiple screening methods have been used since, and currently a two-tier system is used, with residual enzyme activity of galactose-1-phosphate-uridyltransferase (GALT) and total galactose concentration in dried blood spots as the primary and secondary markers. As it is essential to monitor effectiveness of NBS programs, we assessed the effectiveness of different screening methods used over time (primary aim), and aimed to identify and investigate patients identified through NBS with previously unreported clinical and biochemical phenotypes (secondary aim).

METHODS

The effectiveness of different screening methods and their cut-off values (COVs), as used from 2007 through 2015, was determined, and the clinical and biochemical data of all identified patients were retrospectively collected.

RESULTS

All screening methods and COVs resulted in relatively high false-positive rates and low positive predictive values. Total galactose levels in dried blood spots were far above the COV for NBS in all true positive cases. A total of 31 galactosemia patients were identified, and when corrected for a family with three affected siblings, 14% had a previously unreported phenotype and genotype. These individuals did not demonstrate any symptoms at the time of diagnosis while still being exposed to galactose, had galactose-1-phosphate values below detection limit within months after the start of diet, and had previously unreported genotypes.

CONCLUSION

Optimization of NBS for CG in the Netherlands is warranted because of the high false-positive rate, which may result in significant harm. Furthermore, a surprising 14% of newborns identified with CG by screening had previously unreported clinical and biochemical phenotypes and genotypes. For them, individualized prognostication and treatment are warranted, in order to avoid unnecessary stringent galactose restriction.

Evaluation of the revised New Zealand national newborn screening protocol for congenital hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the revised New Zealand (NZ) newborn screening TSH cut-offs for congenital hypothyroidism (CHT).

METHODS

Screening data over 24 months were obtained from the NZ newborn metabolic screening programme, which utilizes a 2-tier system of direct clinical referral for infants with markedly elevated TSH, and second samples from those with mild TSH elevation. We evaluated the impact of a reduced TSH threshold (50 to 30 mIU/l blood) for direct notification and a lower cut-off (15 to 8 mIU/l blood) applied to second samples and babies older than 14 days.

RESULTS

In 2013 and 2014, 117 528 infants underwent newborn screening for CHT. Fifty-two CHT cases were identified by screening (47 general newborn population, five repeat testing in low-birth-weight infants) and one case was missed. Thirty-two infants with screening TSH ≥30 mIU/l were directly referred at a median of 9 days (5-14) and 15 with TSH 15-29 mIU/l were referred after a second sample at a median of 20 days (9-52, P < 0·001). All directly referred infants were confirmed as CHT cases with no earlier referrals as a result of the reduced threshold. The lower TSH cut-off applied to second samples lead to the identification of six extra cases of CHT (15% increase) from seven extra clinical referrals.

CONCLUSIONS

The NZ screening programme achieved a 15% increase in CHT case detection for minimal increase in workload or anxiety for families of healthy infants. A further decrease in the threshold for direct referral may allow earlier diagnoses.

Evaluating Harms in the Assessment of Net Benefit: A Framework for Newborn Screening Condition Review

BACKGROUND

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children ("Advisory Committee") makes recommendations to the HHS Secretary regarding addition of new conditions to the national Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns. The Advisory Committee's decision-making process includes assessing the net benefit of screening for nominated conditions, informed by systematic evidence reviews generated by an independent Condition Review Workgroup. The evidence base regarding harms associated with screening for specific conditions is often more limited than that for benefits.

PROCEDURES

The process for defining potential harms from newborn screening reviewed the frameworks from other public health evidence-based review processes, adapted to newborn screening by experts in systematic review, newborn screening programs and bioethics, with input from and approval by the Advisory Committee.

MAIN FINDINGS

To support the Advisory Committee's review of nominated conditions, the Workgroup has developed a standardized approach to evaluation of harms and relevant gaps in the evidence. Types of harms include the physical burden to infants; psychosocial and logistic burdens to families from screening or diagnostic evaluation; increased risk of medical treatment for infants diagnosed earlier than children with clinical presentation; delayed diagnosis from false negative results; psychosocial harm from false positive results; uncertainty of clinical diagnosis, age of onset or clinical spectrum; and disparities in access to diagnosis or therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Estimating the numbers of children at risk, the magnitude, timing and likelihood of harms will be integrated into Workgroup reports to the Advisory Committee.