News Releases

Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is very happy to announce that we will be adding the Newborn Screening Program to our long list of services for Delaware’s youngest population. For more than 80 years, Nemours has been strongly committed to the health of Delaware’s children. In 2016 alone, we cared for more than 85,000 children who reside in Delaware.

The transition of newborn screening from the state of Delaware to Nemours will be a very smooth one. We have already been partnering with the State, providing medical consulting and short-term follow-up services for the Newborn Screening Program since 2013. Nemours also maintains relationships with birthing hospitals statewide, as well as a robust referral network of pediatric specialists for children diagnosed or identified as at-risk through newborn screening.

Key Facts

• Nemours has carefully chosen PerkinElmer as our provider of laboratory services because of their strong reputation in diagnostics and successful newborn screening programs throughout the United States and globally.
• This program will be of significant value to the state of Delaware as Nemours will be able to provide greater expertise and expanded services.
• Expanded services include:
  • 24/7 physician coverage
  • Second tier genetic testing
  • Results reported six days per week
  • Local access to follow-up care
  • Expertise of an internationally respected lab services provider
• The Newborn Screening Program is intended to identify newborn babies with one of a number of rare disorders. Babies with these disorders may appear well at birth. Most of these disorders, if not identified and treated soon after birth, can result in developmental delay, substantial cognitive disability, serious medical problems, or even death. 
• Every newborn baby in Delaware gets a heel stick to draw blood that is tested for more than 40 metabolic disorders, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and thyroid disease. 

"It only makes sense that Delaware’s only children’s hospital take on this very important responsibility. The state of Delaware has done a fantastic job and we have large shoes to fill. We are excited to add newborn screening as it only strengthens our commitment to the health and well-being of all children in Delaware."

—Roy Proujansky, MD, Chief Executive of Delaware Valley Operations, Nemours Children’s Health System

"Combining PerkinElmer’s exceptional laboratory expertise with Nemours’ strong relationships with Delaware families, hospitals, primary care providers, and specialists will ensure quality lab results and swift follow-up for children should they be diagnosed or identified as at-risk through newborn screening."

—Michael Cellucci, MD, Medical Director, Nemours Newborn Screening Program

“The transition of newborn screening services from DPH to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is a positive move on many levels. First, the expanded genetic screening opportunities will be beneficial to families so that disorders are identified and treated sooner. Additionally, this will result in cost savings for the Division, but more importantly, free up our DPH Lab staff to focus on other core mission work.”

—Dr. Karyl Rattay, Division of Public Health Director