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Scotland to roll out 'simple' genetic test to help prevent deafness in babies
The 26-minute cheek swab test identifies infants at risk of gentamicin-induced hearing loss to enable safer antibiotic use, reducing hospital stays and long-term costs, NHS Scotland said.
- NHS Scotland will roll out a rapid cheek-swab genetic test across all health boards with neonatal units over the next 18 months, detecting the variant in 26 minutes.
- Gentamicin is often prescribed for neonatal sepsis but can cause permanent hearing loss in a small number of newborn infants with a specific genetic variant, so clinicians screen to select safer antibiotics.
- Health Secretary Neil Gray said `This test will have a life-changing impact` and Dr Helen McDevitt said it will prevent deafness in many susceptible newborns annually.
- NHS Scotland said the test will help make the best use of resources by reducing hospital stays, easing pressure on hospital services, and avoiding long-term costs while giving families and loved ones peace of mind.
- The programme puts Scotland at the forefront of precision medicine from birth, with pilots in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Manchester already showing the test in use.
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Rollout of ‘simple’ genetic test to help prevent deafness in babies in Scotland
Health Secretary Neil Gray said the rollout will have a ‘life-changing’ impact on newborn babies in Scotland. A “simple” genetic test for newborn babies that will help prevent deafness caused by a common antibiotic is to be rolled out across Scotland, it has been announced. The test can show whether an infant is susceptible to hearing loss as a result of an antibiotic named Gentamicin. Doctors often prescribe Gentamicin to babies showing signs o…
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Left
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
60% Left
L 60%
C 40%
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