Newborn screening makes it possible to identify and cure diseases before the infant exhibits any noticeable symptoms. This is because the tests are conducted before the baby experiences any symptoms. Remember that a screening test does not identify, validate, or rule out any particular ailment. It is not diagnostic testing as a result. The test only detects infants who may be affected by the ailment in question, enabling further testing and diagnosis to be made to ascertain whether the problem is indeed present.

Testing newborns at birth is crucial as part of the preventative healthcare program known as “new-born screening.