Is the newborn screening the same thing as a “PKU test?”
No. The term “PKU test” is outdated and misleading since phenylketonuria (PKU) is only one of many conditions on the newborn screening panel. PKU was the first condition screened for by newborn screening in the 1960s. Using this misnomer can cause confusion among parents who have been notified of an abnormal test result. Their initial reaction could be to look up PKU online and jump to conclusions, while unaware the abnormal test result could have been related to another condition on the screening panel.