DSHS Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Newborn Screening Test

MEDIA ADVISORY
September 3, 2019

What

A ribbon cutting ceremony and laboratory tour to celebrate implementation of testing Texas newborns for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD.

Who

DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD
State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
State Rep. Sarah Davis
Frani Broussard Denenberg, X-ALD advocate

When

Thursday, Sept. 5
2 p.m.

Where

DSHS Main Campus
1100 W. 49th Street, Room M-100
Austin, TX

Background

DSHS’s Newborn Screening Program tests all Texas newborns for serious, rare genetic disorders and medical conditions. Blood samples are screened for 53 conditions at the state laboratory in Austin so that treatment can begin early enough to avert developmental delays, illness or even death.

In August, DSHS began screening for X-ALD, a rare genetic disorder characterized by damage to the nervous system and adrenal glands that are not working properly. X-ALD is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to a build-up of fatty acids in the body, causing damage to nerve tissues. X-ALD affects about one in 17,000 people worldwide, including 10-14 cases in Texas each year. Diagnosis requires laboratory testing.

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(News Media Contact: Lara Anton, DSHS Press Officer, 512-776-7753)