What is the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel?
The Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) is a national guideline for newborn screening (NBS). It consists of a list of conditions (PDF - 65 KB) for which the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends all newborns receive screening.
The RUSP divides these conditions into two main groups: core and secondary conditions.
- Core conditions: The Secretary of HHS recommends including these in every NBS program. Newborn screening is specifically designed to assess whether your baby might have these conditions.
- Secondary conditions: These may be found while screening for a core condition. Although NBS is not specifically designed to assess whether your baby might have these conditions, it sometimes finds babies likely to have them.
States use the RUSP to help them decide which conditions to include in their NBS programs.
Will My Baby Be Screened for All of the Conditions on the RUSP?
Not necessarily.
The RUSP is a guideline that helps states decide which conditions to include on their newborn screening panels. Each state makes its own decision about what their panels will include (or not include). Most states screen for most conditions on the RUSP. Some also screen for conditions not on the RUSP. Your baby will be screened for all of the conditions on your state’s newborn screening panel.
To learn more about screening in your state, please visit the State pages.