Universal G6PD screening catches cases missed by targeted testing

A review of 5413 neonates at a Jerusalem tertiary center found that severe G6PD deficiency was associated with a nearly fivefold increased risk of phototherapy (OR 4.78, 95% CI 2.60-8.78). The study reported that 43.2% of G6PD-deficient newborns would have been missed by targeted screening based on family history or ethnicity, and that universal screening identified 6.4% of phototherapy-treated neonates who would not have been flagged under a targeted approach. The authors concluded that universal screening objectively identifies newborns at increased risk for hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy.

Most relevant for: Newborns undergoing evaluation for hyperbilirubinemia, particularly in settings relying on targeted rather than universal G6PD screening.

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