4.3.14 Specific Conditions – Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis

  • Universally offered but not required
  • Required or offered universally but not yet implemented
  • Not universally offered
  • See note below the map
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
AB BC MB NB NL NT NS NU ON PE QC SK YT

Note:
Nunavut regions:
Kitimeot region: Universally offered but not required
Kivilliq region: Not universally offered
Baffin region: Not universally offered

Source: Newborn Screening in Canada Status Report. Updated June 21, 2013. Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders. http://raredisorders.ca/documents/CanadaJune21.pdf

 

Eight provinces/territories offer newborn screening for cystic fibrosis.

Early diagnosis and early treatment of cystic fibrosis can reduce hospitalizations and improve the quality of life and life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients. Without newborn screening, most people are not diagnosed until they present with symptoms. By that time, early damage to the lungs and digestive system may be difficult to reverse. Research demonstrates that a newborn diagnosed early with cystic fibrosis will have an improved height, weight, nutritional status, lung function, and cognitive ability.1,2,3

1Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Canada. http://www.cysticfibrosis.ca/?lang=en
2Farrell PM, Kosorok MR, Rock MJ, Laxova A, Zeng L, Lai HC, Hoffman G, et al. Early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis through neonatal screening prevents severe malnutrition and improves long-term growth. Wisconsin Cystic Fibrosis Neonatal Screening Study Group. Pediatrics. 2001;107(1):1–13
3Southern KW, Merelle MM, Dankert-Roelse JE, Nagelkerke AF. Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(1):CD001402

Implications

Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis raises a number of ethical questions. Because it can ultimately identify a child who is just a carrier but not affected, there are pros and cons to communicating this information to parents. If parents discover that their child is a carrier, they will have numerous questions about the long-term implications for their child and about their own health. This can be very stressful.