We compared MS/MS and DNA analyses of 2409 newborn blood spots collected over 3 consecutive months.
Of 2409 infants, 166 (6.9 % ) were homozygous for the variant, all but one of whom were of Alaska Native race. None of the homozygous infants was identified by MS/MS on the first newborn screen using a C0/C16 + C18 cutoff of 130. Among 633 Alaska Native infants, 165 (26.1 % ) were homozygous and 218 (34.4 % ) were heterozygous for the variant. The prevalence was highest in Alaska’s northern/western regions (51.2 % of 255 infants homozygous; allele frequency, 0.7).
The CPT1A c.1436C→T variant is prevalent among some Alaska Native peoples, but newborn screening using current MS/MS cutoffs is not an effective means to identify homozygous infants. The clinical consequences of the partial CPT1A deficiency associated with this variant are unknown. If effects are substantial, revision of newborn screening, including Alaska-specific MS/MS cutoffs and confirmatory genotyping, may be needed.