Guidance

SCID screening: helping you decide if you want this for your baby

Information for parents and carers who are offered screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) for their babies.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

Screening for SCID is being offered in some parts of England as part of an evaluation. It is not yet available for all newborn babies in England.

Healthcare professionals should use this information to support conversations with parents and carers who are offered screening for SCID for their baby.

The information is available in 12 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali and Urdu.

This information is available in A4 PDF format (in English) to print out and provide for people who cannot access digital information. For more information, see the ‘order printed leaflets’ section of our guidance on how to access and order leaflets.

A limited number of free printed copies are provided for local screening providers to give to women who cannot access the internet. Screening services can order printed copies on the online ordering portal.

Digital or print copies of the SCID information should be provided alongside Screening tests for you and your baby (STFYAYB), as appropriate.

Contact the Screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.

Published 11 August 2021
Last updated 8 April 2022 + show all updates
  1. Changed the research section to say you may be contacted to take part in 'research linked to newborn blood spot screening', rather than 'research linked to SCID screening'.

  2. Added plain A4 PDF version for printing, to provide for people unable to access this information online.

  3. Minor adjustments to translations, including a line to say premature babies may need a second test.

  4. Updated information about SCID screening evaluation.

  5. Added translation