Credit: MSSS; LNS
On Tuesday 6 January 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security in collaboration with the National Health Laboratory (LNS) announced the extension of the national neonatal screening programme, which now covers seven diseases screened at birth.
Since 1 January 2026, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has been added to the list of conditions already screened, namely phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, MCAD deficiency, cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
SCID is a rare but serious disease that affects the immune system, leading to extreme vulnerability in newborns to severe infections. The aim of this initiative is to detect affected children at an early stage in order to guarantee rapid and effective medical care, thereby considerably increasing their chances of survival. Without medical treatment, SCID is potentially fatal within the first months of life. Neonatal screening makes it possible to identify the disease before the first symptoms appear.
According to the ministry, Luxembourg has joined seventeen European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, that already have integrated SCID screening into their national programmes.
The screening method involves a single drop of blood, which is taken from the heel of the infant within the first three days of life and is collected on blotting paper. In the event of a positive result, specialised follow-up is immediately organised by the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL).
The ministry noted that this screening is not mandatory but is strongly recommended, as the examination results can be of crucial importance for the health and future of the newborn.
The screening is free of charge and fully funded by the Ministry of Health and Social Security.
