The Acting Governor directed Commissioner Grant to reconvene the Advisory Panel immediately to consider these disorders for inclusion the newborn screening program. The Commissioner will make recommendations to the Governor within 90 days. In addition the Acting Governor signed an Executive Order that requires the establishment of a panel that will conduct an annual review of newborn screening technology and make recommendations for the ongoing improvement of the state's newborn screening program, including the addition of new screening tests. Newborn blood samples now are taken in the hospital and sent to the department's Public Health and Environmental Laboratories for analysis. The state laboratory also will perform all 10 additional tests - the first four new ones with the lab's currently available technology and the remaining six with special equipment which must be purchased, installed and prepared for use.
New Jersey has an excellent system of follow-up for every abnormal screening result.
Health department staff works nights and weekends if needed to find families whose babies need immediate medical attention. The 14 screening tests are predicted to generate some 2,400 false positives, which is not unusual when performing population-wide screening programs. Staff will also train physicians and hospital personnel, and prepare additional educational materials for families and consumers.