Children’s Health Ireland welcomes the introduction of screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency and Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Children’s Health Ireland welcomes the introduction of screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) through the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (heel prick test) which was announced by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD.
April 13, 2026
CHI at Crumlin, CHI at Temple Street, CHI at Connolly (by appointment), CHI at Tallaght
News
From Monday 13 April, all samples received for newborn bloodspot will be analysed as usual in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory in CHI at Temple Street to identify newborn babies that may be at risk of having SCID and SMA, in addition to the nine conditions that are currently screened for.
This significant milestone reflects the collective commitment of clinical staff, laboratory teams, educators, and programme leads who have contributed their expertise, time, and effort to ensure the successful implementation of these additional screenings.
The National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory will now screen for 11 conditions including:
- cystic fibrosis (CF)
- congenital hypothyroidism (CHT)
- phenylketonuria (PKU)
- classical galactosaemia (C Gal)
- glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1)
- medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD)
- homocystinuria (HCU)
- maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)
- adenosine deaminase deficiency severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID)
- severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
- spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
In a statement released by the Department of Health, Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“The addition of SCID and SMA to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme is a significant milestone and I know it will be very welcome news for families all over Ireland. “This programme enables us to detect rare but serious conditions which benefit from early intervention and lead to vastly improved outcomes for children.
“I want to acknowledge the time and expertise invested by staff from the HSE’sNational Healthy Childhood Programme, the staff at the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory in CHI at Temple Street and other areas across the health service in completing what was a complex implementation process - one that was supported by significant funding from my Department. “I am keenly aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them.
“This is why I am committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice, and in line with our Programme for Government commitments and our goals under the National Rare Disease Strategy, which I published last year. “Moving forwards, I am pleased to confirm that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is progressing work to consider additional expansions to screening and I look forward to receiving recommendations from the Committee in due course.”
Dr Abigail Collins, HSE National Clinical Lead, Child Health Public Health, said the development will lead to better outcomes for babies born with SCID and SMA:
“This is a momentous day for the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme, with the addition of SCID and SMA. Screening will help to identify an estimated 6 to 7 babies born with SMA and an estimated 1 to 2 babies born with SCID each year. This early detection allows for earlier treatment, leading to better outcomes for babies with these conditions.”
Martina Ring, Laboratory Manager in Children’s Health Ireland, wanted to highlight the work of the dedicated team in CHI at Temple Street and emphasise the importance of the addition:
“I would like to thank and congratulate our dedicated Newborn Screening Laboratory team colleagues in CHI for their involvement in supporting the expansion of newborn screening to include SCID and SMA. The commitment of our staff has played a key role in strengthening early detection of these conditions and improving health outcomes for newborns across Ireland.”