New Version of Spot On Program Released

The South Australian Neonatal Screening Service announces that a new and updated version of the highly successful neonatal screening program 'Spot On' has been released.

The program incorporates a wide range of information on newborn screening that is relevant for practitioners and those who are interested in the genetic, social and ethical issues associated with screening programs such as schools and universities.

The program is divided into two parts. The first part provides an overview of neonatal screening covering how and why the tests are done and how neonatal screening fits into the broader context of public health care. It also provides an explanation of the disorders tested for by neonatal screening.

The second part is designed as an instructional guide for practitioners who are involved in the collection of samples for screening.

Several well known researchers and genetic experts were interviewed for the program including:

• Professor John Hopwood, a world expert in the field of Lysosomal Storage Disorders, which are a large group of genetic disorders that cause a range of serious health problems in newborns each year.
  
  
• Professor Grant Sutherland a leading researcher in cytogenetics and the only Australian researcher included in the prestigious, Human Genome Project.
  
  
• Dr Eric Haan, current President of the Human Genetics Society of Australia.

The program is available as a video or on CD ROM to order a copy, please contact:

Clare Kiesewetter
kiesewettc@mail.wch.sa.gov.au

Telephone: 61 8 8161 8094
Fax: 61 8 8161 7100