Some diseases/ conditions are not visible in newborns and can be diagnosed only by tests. Without investigations, these conditions can remain undiagnosed in early life and manifest later. Delay in diagnosis and treatment of this condition may cause permanent disability or sometimes death. For these reasons, the earliest diagnosis of these conditions is necessary, so that treatment can be initiated early. In universal neonatal screening, these conditions are investigated in each child. Most of the conditions, that are screened in neonatal screening programs are rare. Developed countries do a panel of tests in the neonatal screening program. Several tests in the panel depend on multiple factors- a prevalent disease in the country/community, high/low-risk pregnancy, health budget, etc.
The concept of neonatal screening is not well established in India compared to the west. Barring a few corporate hospitals, most private and almost all government hospital does not follow any strict rule for screening all newborns delivered at their facility. There is no logic in doing twenty or thirty tests for each newborn in a poor country like India. I would suggest you do these FIVE tests on your newborn –
Test for congenital hypothyroidism(FT4, TSH)
Hearing assessment (OAE &BERA)
Test for congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH)
Test for G6PD deficiency
Screening of hemoglobinopathy(HPLC)
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