Babies born in the United States are more likely to be screened for serious diseases today than ever before, reveals a new study from the March of Dimes (MOD): Nearly 88 percent of newborns receive the majority of tests recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), up from 38 percent in 2005. But while this is good news, more can be done to protect newborns. Doctors emphasize the importance of early detection for conditions such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, which are treatable if caught early, but the lack of a federal testing guideline means that whether babies actually get those tests may depend on where their parents live, says MOD president Jennifer Howse, PhD. While the ACMG urges testing for 29 separate conditions, just 13 states and the District of Columbia screen for all disorders on the ACMG list.Advocacy groups such as MOD are working to ensure universal screening. "Our goal is all states, all twenty-nine tests, all babies," says Dr. Howse. If your state doesn't require all of the recommended tests (see www.marchofdimes.com/nbs), ask your doctor about private labs; fees usually range from $25 to $100.