Current status of newborn screening in Southeastern and Central Europe

Požun, Nika (author), Perko, Daša (author), Anastasovska, Violeta (author), Battelino, Tadej (author), Drole Torkar, Ana (author), Mlinarič, Matej (author), Remec, Žiga Iztok (author), Repič-Lampret, Barbka (author), Trampuž, Domen (author), Žerjav-Tanšek, Mojca (author), Grošelj, Urh (author)

Newborn screening (NBS) is a well-established public health program that enables early detection and treatment of rare disorders in newborns, preventing severe complications or death. Despite its recognized importance, the scope and implementation of NBS programs vary across Southeastern (SE) and Central Europe. This study aimed to evaluate the current status of NBS in 16 countries of SE and Central Europe and assess progress since the previous survey in 2021. A structured questionnaire was distributed to national experts between April and December 2025, collecting data on program organization, coverage, diseases included, laboratory methods, confirmatory testing, consent practices, and future expansion plans. All countries reported universal screening for congenital hypothyroidism, except Kosovo, where a national NBS is in the process of being established. Expanded NBS using tandem mass spectrometry was available in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania, and Slovenia. Spinal muscular atrophy screening became universal in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia. Most countries reported plans for further expansion, with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, severe combined immunodeficiency, spinal muscular atrophy, and cystic fibrosis being the most frequently targeted conditions. Although notable infrastructural progress has been achieved, financial constraints, lack of staff, and organizational barriers remain key challenges. The study’s assessment of program effectiveness was further limited by the absence of region-wide systems for capturing end-to-end performance indicators, such as the age of the infant at treatment initiation or missed cases. Regional collaboration and adoption of best practices are therefore vital to ensure equitable access and continuous advancement of NBS programs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: newborn screening, NBS, Southeastern Europe, Central Europe, neonatal screening, expanded NBS program
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 23 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, issue 1, art. 14
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-183381
• UDC: 616-053.2
• ISSN on article: 2409-515X
• DOI: 10.3390/ijns12010014
• COBISS.SI-ID: 270681603
• Publication date in RUL: 12.06.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International journal of neonatal screening
• Shortened title: Int. j. neonatal screen.
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2409-515X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 525322521

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P3-0343
• Name: Etiologija, zgodnje odkrivanje in zdravljenje bolezni pri otrocih in mladostnikih