The ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy was launched on 29 April 2022. ASCIA has worked in collaboration with patient organisations (IDFA, AusPips, IDFNZ and HAE Australasia), and other stakeholders to develop the Strategy. The first goal of the Strategy is to enable early diagnosis of severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) by newborn screening of the Australian population. 

Following the Strategy launch and long term advocacy by patient organisations and ASCIA members, ASCIA welcomes the formal recommendation for SCID to be included in Australian Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programs which was recently announced in a media statement by the Australian Government https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/international-neonatal-screening-day

It is anticipated that other Australian states will also make funding commitments for SCID newborn screening.

The incidence of SCID is about 1 in 58,000 births. Most patients with SCID have a genetically identifiable cause, and usually develop severe, recurrent, persistent and opportunistic respiratory and gastrointestinal infections within the first few months of life, with failure to thrive. SCID is fatal in the first two years of life without early and definitive intervention which is enabled by newborn screening.

The ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy is available at https://www.nationalimmunodeficiencystrategy.org.au/

To read more about the Strategy launch go to https://www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/ascia-immunodeficiency-strategy-launch

This news item was issued on 4 July 2022 and updated on 1 August 2022 by Jill Smith, CEO of ASCIA, the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.