Newborn screening is the post-birth testing of newborns that catches certain diseases and medical conditions, preventing serious health problems, and many times deaths, of thousands of babies each year. It is the largest and most successful disease prevention system in the United States.
APHL represents the state public health laboratories that conduct this newborn screening. APHL member laboratories (state, local and city governmental laboratories) form the backbone of a national laboratory network on alert 24/7 to respond to novel strains of disease, natural disasters, chemical spills, foodborne outbreaks and other health emergencies.