Massachusetts screens newborns through the New England Newborn Screening Program at UMass Chan Medical School, a state-designated program rather than a state-run laboratory. It mandates 35 required disorders and offers roughly 31 additional conditions as an opt-in pilot panel.
Massachusetts newborn screening at a glance
- Conditions screened: 35 required (plus optional conditions), plus newborn hearing and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening
- Program: New England Newborn Screening Program (UMass Chan Medical School)
- Compared to the federal RUSP: screens the full RUSP core, with optional additions
- Official source: Massachusetts newborn screening program
What the Massachusetts panel covers
The required panel includes PKU and other metabolic disorders, endocrine and hemoglobin conditions such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, SCID, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The optional panel adds conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and toxoplasmosis.
Massachusetts is distinctive for its two-tier structure: a required set every baby receives, plus a voluntary research panel parents can choose. The program’s pages were refreshed in mid-2026.
Why the Massachusetts panel stops where it does
The size of Massachusetts’s panel is not a limit of technology. Every condition on a state panel has to clear evidence review, secure ongoing funding, and be formally adopted, which is why recent additions took years of work. Many treatable, childhood-onset conditions that today’s sequencing can already detect simply have not moved through that public-health pipeline yet.
How Fore extends newborn screening
Fore Genomics offers an at-home genetic screen that uses a simple cheek swab to look at the genes tied to more than 1,000 clinically actionable, childhood-onset conditions — well beyond any state panel. Samples are sequenced in CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs, and results are delivered with support from board-certified genetic counselors. It does not replace the Massachusetts state screen; it extends it, using technology available today rather than waiting for the public program to expand. Compare all 50 states, read what newborn screening tests for, or start screening.
Frequently asked questions
How many conditions does Massachusetts screen for?
Massachusetts screens for 35 required (plus optional conditions) through its bloodspot panel and point-of-care checks. Counts are approximate and change as the state updates its panel, so confirm current details with the Massachusetts program.
Is newborn screening required in Massachusetts?
Newborn screening is standard for every baby born in Massachusetts. Rules on declining vary, so check current guidance from the Massachusetts newborn screening program.
How do I get my baby’s Massachusetts results?
Results are sent to your baby’s healthcare provider. Ask your pediatrician, or contact the Massachusetts newborn screening program for a copy.
Medically reviewed by Fore’s Clinical Team. This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. State screening panels change; confirm current details with the New England Newborn Screening Program (UMass Chan Medical School) (as of June 2026). Sources: Massachusetts newborn screening program; HRSA Recommended Uniform Screening Panel.