What is the primary purpose of neonatal screening?

The primary purpose of neonatal screening is to detect congenital disorders early in newborns. This process is vital because many congenital conditions are not immediately apparent at birth but can have significant long-term consequences if not identified and treated promptly. Early detection allows for timely interventions that can greatly improve the outcomes for affected infants, potentially preventing serious health issues or developmental delays.

Neonatal screening generally involves testing for a variety of metabolic, genetic, and endocrine disorders through a small blood sample taken from the newborn shortly after birth. Conditions such as phenylketonuria (PKU), congenital hypothyroidism, and sickle cell disease are common targets of these screenings. By identifying such disorders early, healthcare providers can initiate necessary treatments before the appearance of clinical symptoms, significantly enhancing the infant's quality of life and health trajectory.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of health monitoring. Monitoring developmental milestones is essential for assessing growth and development but is not the primary focus of neonatal screening. Assessing newborn weight is crucial for evaluating immediate health status but does not capture the hidden congenital disorders that screening aims to uncover. Checking vaccination status is a part of preventive healthcare but is conducted at a later stage rather than being a part of the universal screening program for newborns.