athansor
17-04-2008, 03:29 PM
Hi
Does anyone have any further information on the heel prick tests or Guthrie tests that new borns undergo within the first 6 days of birth? I’m really looking into when this first started in this country and more specifically what happens to the blood samples once the lab has performed a test? How long are they kept for? Who regulates this and who potentially has access to this information?
Just a bit of background on this test, the Guthrie or heel prick test is done between six days and two weeks after birth and blood from the heel is analysed for conditions such as cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism and phenylketonurea. The mid-wife takes the blood sample by pricking the baby’s heel, this is then used to cover four circles on an absorbent card, which is then forwarded to the public health laboratory.
The Guthrie test is used for the early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and hypothyroidism. It is also used as the test for Phenylketonurea (PKU), which is a rare condition affecting approximately one baby in ten thousand. Guidelines and information for this test (and here goes with scare-mongering, it may be justified, I personally don’t have enough information on the diseases they’re purportedly checking and what their consequences are)…. “If left untreated this condition can cause mental retardation in the baby so early diagnosis is vital”.
I found some interesting information relating to the Guthrie (so named after its founder, I believe) tests which are carried out in New Zealand and identifies that the samples are kept indefinitely unless requested by the parents!!!
http://www-accountancy.massey.ac.nz/docs/SeminarDetails/Just%20a%20Little%20Prick%20abstract.pdf
It seems to me that, certainly for new generations, they (those in authority) have already our DNA and why store it and retain once a test has been done??? There’s no need to fingerprint us or swab us, they already have our blood!!!
Cheers
Paul
Does anyone have any further information on the heel prick tests or Guthrie tests that new borns undergo within the first 6 days of birth? I’m really looking into when this first started in this country and more specifically what happens to the blood samples once the lab has performed a test? How long are they kept for? Who regulates this and who potentially has access to this information?
Just a bit of background on this test, the Guthrie or heel prick test is done between six days and two weeks after birth and blood from the heel is analysed for conditions such as cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism and phenylketonurea. The mid-wife takes the blood sample by pricking the baby’s heel, this is then used to cover four circles on an absorbent card, which is then forwarded to the public health laboratory.
The Guthrie test is used for the early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and hypothyroidism. It is also used as the test for Phenylketonurea (PKU), which is a rare condition affecting approximately one baby in ten thousand. Guidelines and information for this test (and here goes with scare-mongering, it may be justified, I personally don’t have enough information on the diseases they’re purportedly checking and what their consequences are)…. “If left untreated this condition can cause mental retardation in the baby so early diagnosis is vital”.
I found some interesting information relating to the Guthrie (so named after its founder, I believe) tests which are carried out in New Zealand and identifies that the samples are kept indefinitely unless requested by the parents!!!
http://www-accountancy.massey.ac.nz/docs/SeminarDetails/Just%20a%20Little%20Prick%20abstract.pdf
It seems to me that, certainly for new generations, they (those in authority) have already our DNA and why store it and retain once a test has been done??? There’s no need to fingerprint us or swab us, they already have our blood!!!
Cheers
Paul