45223wc@mtuxo.UUCP (w.cambre) (07/16/85)
>Babies born in hospitals are routinely checked for PKU - it's a simple >blood test - before they are released. >-- >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >Janet Smuga I've had a great many troubles in my time, >mtuxo!smuga and most of them never happened. > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Unfortunately many hospitals do the PKU tests when the baby is only a day old. For the test to be accurate the baby must have ingested that phenyl stuff first. For breastfed kiddies that means after the mother's milk has come in, (apparently colostrum doesn't count). So the PKU test should be done something like 5-7 days after birth. These days many babies don't stay in the hospital that long so the hospitals do it early. I believe state law in NJ requires the PKU test be done, but it doesn't HAVE to be done in the hospital. Pediatricians can do the test or you can go back to the hosp as an outpatient for it when the baby is a week old. - Bill Cambre ATTIS mtuxo!45223wc
tp@ndm20 (07/16/85)
In Texas, the PKU is done twice, once in the first few days, and once at the 2 week checkup. Terry Poot