Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease

Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease

In Virginia, all newborns are screened for sickle cell disease. This effort has dramatically reduced the number of deaths from life threatening complications through:

• Identification and confirmation of disease status prior to onset of clinical symptoms
• Enrollment of families into a comprehensive care plan that includes parent education and support
• Early administration of prophylactic penicillin

Comprehensive Care for Newborns Comprehensive care represents a partnership between the primary care provider and a medical center staffed with professionals sensitive to the medical and social needs of individuals and families living with sickle cell disease. Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinics are designed to enhance the resources of both providers and families.

Referral Sites For Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Services (PDF)