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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Simultaneous Quantification of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs) and K-Deleting Recombination Excision Circles (KRECs) by Real-time PCR
14:14

Simultaneous Quantification of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs) and K-Deleting Recombination Excision Circles (KRECs) by Real-time PCR

Published on: December 6, 2014

Implementing routine testing for severe combined immunodeficiency within Wisconsin's newborn screening program

Mei Wang Baker1, Ronald H Laessig, Murray L Katcher

  • 1Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
|June 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Wisconsin

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a genetic disorder affecting T-cell development, leading to life-threatening infections in infants.
  • Early diagnosis and bone marrow transplantation significantly improve outcomes for SCID patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the implementation of SCID screening in Wisconsin's newborn screening (NBS) program.
  • To detail the processes for adding SCID testing to NBS and establishing follow-up protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to measure T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs).
  • TRECs serve as biomarkers for normal T-cell maturation; low levels indicate T-cell lymphopenia consistent with SCID.

Main Results:

  • Wisconsin's NBS program became the first globally to routinely screen all newborns for SCID starting January 1, 2008.
  • The study details the successful integration of SCID screening into existing NBS workflows.

Conclusions:

  • The Wisconsin SCID newborn screening program demonstrates a viable model for other states.
  • Implementing SCID screening via TREC measurement enhances early detection and improves infant health outcomes.

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