Newborn screening for all identifiable disorders with tandem mass spectrometry is cost effective: supporting arguments.

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has become increasingly popular as the preferred technology for detecting inborn errors of metabolism in newborn screening (NBS) programmes. Its sensitivity and specificity for detecting numerous metabolic conditions is well-documented. As a NBS technology, there are continuing questions about whether MS/MS should be utilised to the fullest when such usage may mean detecting and reporting analytical findings that could lead to differentiating and diagnosing for which treatment efficacy may not yet be proven. As part of a friendly debate to educate conference attendees on both sides of a somewhat controversial issue, 2 papers awere presented giving information supporting or questioning the cost effectiveness of full scan usage and reporting when using MS/MS in NBS. Reported here are some of the supporting arguments.