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(NAR) VOL. 14 NOS. 3-4 / JULY-DECEMBER 2003
[ DOH DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 349 S. 2003, October 14, 2003 ]
LABORATORIES PROVIDING AND INTENDING TO PROVIDE TESTS FOR NEWBORN SCREENING
Administrative Order No. 1-A s. 2000 also known as, "Policies on the Nationwide Implementation of Newborn Screening" provides that by year 2004, newborn screening shall be a part of standard newborn care. As the Department of Health (DOH) implements a National Newborn Screening Program, there is a concurrent need to ensure the quality of newborn screening services to be provided by various health facilities involved in the program. Decades of experience from developed and developing countries have shown that the critical factors to quality assurance of newborn screening services are the provision of high quality laboratories that not only provide tests for newborn screening, but integrate follow-up and networking program for patient diagnosis, recall, treatment, management and evaluation.
In order to ensure that newborn screening centers shall only operate on internationally recommended standards at the least affordable cost, prior accreditation shall be required. Be advised that the DOH will provide rules and regulations for the accreditation of laboratories providing tests for newborn screening.
With exception to the national Institutes of Health, all other hospitals and free standing diagnostic facilities whether public or private, are enjoined not to establish, convert, or otherwise operate laboratories intended to provide tests for newborn screening.
Please be guided accordingly.
Adopted: 14 Oct. 2003
(SGD.) MANUEL M. DAYRIT, M.D., MSc.
Secretary of Health