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Dubai | Staff Reporter | September 11, 2006
Jenan Medical Center launches newborn screening
tests for Dubai and the United Arab Emirates
(Dubai Health & News) -- Jenan Medical Center, a Dubai-based
specialty medical center, has started newborn screening tests
specifically to meet the ever increasing cases of various genetic
diseases and disorders that are prevalent in Dubai and the United Arab
Emirates, in general.
Due to consanguineous marriages, especially where there is a history of
genetic diseases, prenatal diagnoses and screening of newborn babies is
usually recommended for early detection of disability so that
rehabilitation options can be evaluated and initiated as early as possible.
Newborn screening tests that are now performed at Jenan Medical Center
include:
Phenyketonuria (PKU)
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Galactosemia
Sickle
cell disease
Maple
syrup urine disease
Homocystinuria
Biotindase deficiency
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Medium
chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
Hearing
loss
In addition, Jenan Medical Center performs a range of other tests to
detect for disorders including congenital toxoplasmosis and cystic
fibrosis. Using a new testing technique called 'tandem mass
spectrometry', Jenan Medical Center is now able to identify more than 30
disorders using a simple blood sample, including those involving protein
and fatty acid metabolism.
According to Dr. M. Siddiqi, M.D., Managing Director of Jenan Medical
Center, "newborn testing is an essential part of the screening
process for saving lives and creating awareness about various diseases
and options
available."
Founded in 1999, Jenan Medical Center has affiliations with major
hospitals in Dubai, Europe, and the USA.
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