Illinois Marks 60 Years of Newborn Screening, Saving Lives Through Early Detection (Springfield, IL) – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is celebrating six decades of its newborn screening program, which has grown from testing for a single condition in 1965 to checking for more than 50 today. Each year, the program reaches more than 100,000 babies across the state, ensuring early detection and treatment for conditions that otherwise might go unnoticed.
“IDPH is proud to be a leader in supporting families with our newborn screening program,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “For the past 60 years in Illinois, newborn screens have detected potentially life-threatening conditions in healthy babies before they show symptoms. Each year, more than 500 babies in our state are diagnosed through this vital public health service.”
The program began in 1965 with mandatory testing for phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder that, if untreated, can cause severe health and developmental issues. Today, screenings cover a wide range of conditions, including congenital heart disease, metabolic and genetic disorders, blood diseases, and hearing loss.
Tests are performed within the first 24 to 48 hours of life, typically through a simple blood draw and a separate hearing test. In 2024, nearly 123,000 newborns were screened statewide. Just over 0.2 percent were diagnosed with a condition requiring medical care, amounting to about 500 infants who received potentially life-saving early treatment.
Health officials say the expansion of newborn screening has transformed child health outcomes in Illinois. “Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions can prevent serious health outcomes, enabling Illinois’s children to reach their full potential,” Vohra said.
September is recognized nationally as Newborn Screening Awareness Month.
Illinois Marks 60 Years of Newborn Screening, Saving Lives Through Early Detection
