Fatty Acid Disorders

In these metabolic disorders enzymes necessary for the breakdown of fatty acids, which produces energy, are unavailable or have reduced activity.  Affected newborns can develop symptoms and suffer metabolic crisis as early as 24 hours after birth.  Newborns identified to be at risk for a fatty acid disorder are referred to a contracted medical center for diagnostic evaluation.

The list of fatty acid disorders that we screen for are:

Carnitine acylcarnitine translocase deficiency (CACT)
Carnitine uptake defect (CUD, carnitine transport defect) *
Carnitine palmitoyl transferase deficiency I (CPT-1a)
Carnitine palmitoyl transferase deficiency II (CPT-II)
Dienoyl-CoA reductase deficiency (DE-RED)
Glutaric acidemia type II (GA-II, multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency)
Long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHAD)
Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD)
Medium-chain ketoacyl-CoA thiolase deficiency (MCKAT)
Medium/Short chain L-3-hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (M/SCHAD)
Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCAD)
Trifunctional protein deficiency (TFP)
Very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCAD)

* There is a lower probability of detection of this disorder during the immediate newborn period.

Newborn Screening

Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MSMS)

Missouri newborn screening samples must only be collected on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved blood collection forms that must be pre-purchased from the MSPHL. The optimum collection time is between 24 and 48 hours-of-age. The instructions for collecting the samples are listed on the back of the collection form. All 5 circles on the filter paper need to be filled with blood from one side and then air dried for at least 3 hours in a horizontal position without allowing the blood to touch any surface during drying, including other parts of the card (see image).
See "Rules for Collection".

Store the dried blood samples at room temperature in the envelopes provided by the MSPHL and transport within 24 hours of collection.

Initial Screen (the red form) or Repeat Screen (the green form)

Included in kit

Normal - The final newborn screening reports are mailed to the submitter and physician of record.
Low Risk - Repeat the newborn screen. If, however, the infant is sick or displays signs of metabolic distress, the physician may wish to conduct diagnostic testing instead of, or in addition to the repeat screen. The final newborn screening reports are mailed to the submitter and physician of record.
Moderate/High Risk - Diagnostic testing and consultation with a metabolic specialist is needed. Final results are phoned and faxed to physician/health care provider and appropriate follow up center. Follow up centers are contracted by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) for follow up tracking, testing, diagnosis, and counseling.

Poor Quality Specimens

The marker analytes usually spike to a certain degree immediately after birth in affected newborns. This can be especially noticeable in infants that are breast fed only due to the longer fast that is imposed until the mother’s milk production begins. As the infant feeds regularly for a few days, the marker analytes will lower in concentration, but usually continue to remain above the established cutoffs.   Prematurity and illness can  affect the newborn screening results.

NICU Guidelines and Key for NBS

The recommended collection time between 24 and 48 hours after birth is adequate. Waiting too many days after birth to collect a newborn screening sample could jeopardize the detection of some fatty acid disorders. It is recommended that samples for confirmatory testing of abnormal fatty acid disorder screens be drawn immediately before a feeding time.

1 to 3 working days after receipt of specimen

$95 charge - for full panel of screening disorders.

83789

N/A

Prevalence of Disorder:  1:5,000 in Missouri

For more information on this Disorder, visit the DHSS Newborn Screening website.