Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in Illinois
Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis began in Illinois on January 28, 2008. Working with the State of Illinois and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children’s Memorial has developed a CF newborn screening service that offers rapid testing, counseling and initiation of care for infants with positive newborn screening tests.
The service includes quick access to sweat chloride testing and immediate processing of the tests so that families can get a test result and essential counseling services in a single visit. While the sweat test is in process, families can meet with genetic counselor Teri Hadro to learn about the screening and testing process.
Infants who are confirmed to have CF by a positive sweat test are seen immediately by members of the cystic fibrosis team for initiation of appropriate care.
Our comprehensive, multidisciplinary CF services are available at three sites:
According to Susanna McColley, MD, head of Pulmonary Medicine and the Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center, “We offer the most comprehensive pulmonary physiology laboratory services in the state.” These services include the following:
- The latest technology for assessing lung disease in infants and young children (available at the Lincoln Park facility)
- Infant pulmonary function testing -- a useful tool for assessment of pulmonary function in patients from four months to three years of age
- Impulse oscillometry, which evaluates airway resistance and bronchodilator responsiveness in preschool children
- Spirometry
- Evaluations of exercise tolerance and exercise-induced asthma (performed in the cardiopulmonary exercise laboratory)
Learn more here about the doctors and where they see patients.
Our CF Center has been involved in national quality improvement activities sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The hospital's outcome data can be viewed by registering on the CF Foundation's registration page here. (Visitors need to register, but access is free of charge.)