The recent article by Maxwell and O'Leary1 is timely in outlining the obstacles to introducing newborn screening tests in Australia, and the need for a nationally consistent approach, where the benefits of screening are proven. These obstacles exist despite clear policy developed by the professional newborn screening community.2
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- 1. Maxwell SJ, O'Leary P. Newborn bloodspot screening: setting the Australian national policy agenda. Med J Aust 2014; 200: 142-143. <MJA full text>
- 2. Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Human Genetics Society of Australasia. Policy: newborn bloodspot testing. http://hgsa.org.au/documents/item/29 (accessed Jul 2014).
- 3. Warne GL, Armstrong KL, Faunce TA, et al. The case for newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia in Australia. Med J Aust 2010; 192: 107. <MJA full text>
- 4. Shetty VB, Bower C, Jones TW, et al. Ethnic and gender differences in rates of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in Western Australia over a 21 year period. J Paediatr Child Health 2012; 48: 1029-1032.
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