Spinal muscular atrophy added to newborn screening panel

The new rule requiring newborns to be screened for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) took effect Aug. 7, 2020, adding SMA to the screening panel that all newborns are required to receive. According to the Washington Board of Health, “SMA is a severe condition that results in the breakdown of the skeletal muscles and cardiac and respiratory deficiencies.” This is an important addition to the newborn screening process that will allow doctors to treat newborns with SMA sooner.