A sample of blood is obtained by pricking the baby’s heel between 48 to 72 hours after birth. This sample is then placed on a filter paper which is sent to the laboratory for testing.

• Simple and affordable
• Reliable
• Treatable when diagnosed early

YES! Most babies with Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) look healthy at birth but can become very sick after a few days or weeks. If not found early, many of the conditions can cause serious and permanent health problems, (ie; mental retardation, severe developmental delay and even death).

Allergens are substances that induce allergy symptoms. It usually consists of proteins often with enzyme properties. The allergens cause the production of a type of antibody, called IgE (Immunoglobulin E), that is specifically associated with the development of allergy. Almost any protein substance may act as an allergen but in the tropic, the following are highly allergenic: house dust mites and their faecal pellets, pet dander and common foods (egg, milk, peanuts, prawns and soybean).

There are two types of allergy tests:

• Skin Prick Test (in vivo)
• Blood Allergy Test (in vitro)