Why is there interest now in using the dried blood spots for research, when newborn screening has been done since 1965?
The idea is not really new. In 1999, the Michigan Commission on Genetic Privacy and Progress recommended saving leftover spots because of their value for future research. (See report) In 2000, the Michigan Legislature passed a law allowing them to be used for research. Technology is now to the point where the samples are likely to be more useful than in the past. In fact, the issue of using DBS for research has been in the national spotlight recently and MDCH is receiving more requests from scientists who have ideas on ways to use them to help answer important medical research questions.
