The screening of large numbers of newborns in Texas was made possible and more affordable with the discovery of the filter paper method for testing blood spots, including the introduction of automated laboratory equipment. Texas added screening for the following genetic and heritable disorders in:
1963 – Phenylketonuria (PKU)
1978 – Galactosemia (GALT)
1980 – Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH)
1983 – Hemoglobinopathies (Hb)
1989 – Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
1999 – Newborn hearing screening implemented (point-of-service screen)
In 2006, with the development of Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS), DSHS began testing for a panel of metabolic disorders recommended by the American Academy of Medical Genetics. Following the addition of MS/MS, these additional disorders were added in:
2007 – Biotinodase (BIOT)
2009 – Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
2012 – Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome (SCID)
2014 – Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) implemented (point-of-service screen)
2015 – Secondary Conditions of the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel
2019 – X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD)
2021 – Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)