[Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis : towards a national implementation in Belgium in 2019].

Cystic fibrosis has in Belgium a prevalence of 1/2.850 births, with a median age at diagnosis of 7 months according to the latest data from the Belgian registry of 2015. In our country, the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis is always based on signs and symptoms of the disease. However, because the scientific literature has largely demonstrated the benefits of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis, it will be implemented in Belgium before the end of 2019. The screening programme should be framed by strict quality criteria in order to obtain the best performance with the least possible inconvenience.