Newborn Screening for Hemoglobin Disorders

Newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies began in New York in 1975. It has evolved through the years to include case detection not only for sickle cell diseases but also for many other clinically significant hemoglobin disorders. Hemoglobinopathy screening outside of the U.S. and parts of Europe are limited. Their absence in high prevalence areas of sickle cell diseases such as Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean Islands and India illustrate the global inequities. Newborn screening for alpha-thalassemias is also limited. This report reviews some of the history of newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias and provides an update of related activities.