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Newborn babies will also be screened for SCID, a severe combined immune disorder, from December 1, 2024. The Flemish government decided this on the proposal of Flemish Minister of Health Hilde Crevits (CD&V).
Parents can have their newborn screened for a range of congenital conditions. This is done via the so-called heel prick or Guthrie test. This screening test allows rare diseases to be detected early and treatment can therefore be started in a timely manner. In this way, serious disabilities or injuries can be prevented or the disease process can be slowed down. The heel prick is not mandatory, but is carried out in more than 99 percent of cases in Flanders.
Since May 2023, the screening program has been expanded to include two hereditary metabolic diseases: ‘homocystinuria’ and ‘holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency’. From December 1, 2024, screening for SCID, a serious combined immune disorder, will be added.
More quality of life
In children with SCID, part of the immune system does not work properly, making it easier for them to get infections. The complaints usually start in the first months after birth, but sometimes only later. The cause of SCID is an abnormality in a gene. How much SCID affects someone can vary from person to person. Without treatment, children with this disease can die before they are two years old.
The blood test now detects a total of 19 rare diseases. There has been a significant expansion in recent years and, according to Minister Crevits, ongoing research is being conducted into whether additional diseases may be added in the future.
“We can be really proud of the screening program that we offer for free here in Flanders. Through early detection, we can still make a big difference for many children, parents and families and offer a better quality of life,” says Minister Crevits.