The federal government has not set any national standards, but
many states have mandatory newborn screening programs. Parents
can opt out of genetic testing if they want. Parents should
discuss genetic screening with their pediatrician or child's
doctor so they can weigh the pros and cons. Many states screen
for more than 30 disorders and the screenings are often covered
in the delivery and hospital charges. If a parent wants expanded
testing on their newborn, they may have to pay an extra cost but
it may be worth it to their baby. To help guide states and
parents determine what criteria should be used for genetic
screening, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American
College of Medical Genetics and Genomics just offered new
guidelines. The new guidelines say that all newborns should be
tested for the genetic diseases that are included in their
state's newborn screening panel, but anything beyond that is up
to parents and the decision must be made in the child's best
interest. The recommendations dist