What's on the BRIDGES-NBS Gene List?

BRIDGES-NBS is a research study that uses DNA to look for hundreds of childhood conditions. Screening before any symptoms appear can help your baby's doctor start treatment or monitoring sooner, when it may make the biggest difference in a baby’s health.

BRIDGES-NBS uses the same blood collected for routine newborn screening, but it is optional and separate from routine screening.

777 conditions that may impact health
13 areas of health covered
1 blood spot is tested

What's on the list

A condition was included only if:

  • It can impact a child's health or development.
  • A treatment or monitoring plan can start before age 1 and is expected to meaningfully improve health or prevent complications.
  • There are other ways beyond the genetic test itself (like blood tests, imaging, or a physical exam) to help confirm the diagnosis.

The 13 areas of health we screen for

Immunology
These conditions affect how the immune system protects the body from infections.
Heart and vascular
These conditions affect the development and rhythm of the heart.
Endocrinology
These conditions may affect growth or hormones.
Brain
These conditions affect how the brain develops and may affect development or risk for seizures.
Metabolism
These conditions can affect how the body makes energy.
Digestive
These conditions affect how the digestive system (gut) breaks down and absorbs food.
Hearing loss
These conditions affect how the ears develop and sound is heard.
Bleeding and clotting
These conditions affect the shape of blood cells and may lead to problems with bleeding or clotting.
Cancer risk
These conditions increase the chance of certain cancers in childhood.
Kidneys
These conditions affect how the kidneys filter waste and fluid from the blood.
Lungs and breathing
These conditions affect breathing and how air moves in and out of the body.
Skin
These conditions affect how the skin develops and the risk for severe burns from the sun.
Eye
These conditions affect vision and how the eyes develop.

What's not on the list

  • Conditions that only appear in adulthood.
  • Carrier status (having one copy of a gene change without being affected yourself)
  • Conditions without an established early treatment or monitoring plan.

A few important things to know

  • Every baby enrolled is screened using the same list. Families can't pick and choose which conditions are screened.
  • Not every baby with a gene change will become sick. Other tests can help confirm if they have the condition.
The full list, including specific genes, conditions, and the evidence behind each one, is available at bridgesnbs.org/condition-list.