This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake City • Under a new state law, every Utah newborn baby is required to undergo a screening for congenital heart defects.
The Utah Department of Health says the law took effect Wednesday.
About 64 babies are diagnosed with congenital heart disease every year.
If undiagnosed, the disease can cause serious medical problems or death.
Health officials estimate that about one in every 835 babes born in Utah has a congenital heart condition.
Utah is one of 38 states that require newborns to be screened.