Jenan Medical Center has started newborn screening tests specifically for Dubai and United Arab Emirates

Due to consanguineous marriages, especially where there is a history of genetic diseases, prenatal diagnoses and screening of newborn babies were recommended for early detection of disability so that rehabilitation could be initiated as early as possible.

Newborn testing is an essential part of the screening process for saving lives and creating awareness about various options available.

Some of the Newborn screening tests that are performed at Jenan Medical Center in Dubai includes:

• Phenyketonuria (PKU)
• Congenital Hypothyroidism
• Galactosemia
• Sickle cell disease
• Maple syrup urine disease
• Homocystinuria
• Biotindase deficiency
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
• Hearing loss

Other tests screen for disorders including congenital toxoplasmosis and cystic fibrosis. Using a new testing technique called tandem mass spectrometry which can detect more than 30 disorders using simple blood sample, including those involving protein and fatty acid metabolism.

According to Dr. M. Siddiqi, M.D., Managing Director of Jenan Medical Center, "Newborn testing is an essential part of the screening process for saving lives and create awareness about various options available."