# Newborn blood screening for childhood cancer risks > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/newborn-blood-screening-for-childhood-cancer-risks > Updated: 2026-09-02T05:30:53.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Researchers have demonstrated that newborn heel-prick blood samples can be used to identify genetic predispositions for certain childhood cancers. A study involving nearly 2,000 archived dried blood samples from infants in Michigan found that 6.8 percent of the children carried disease-causing or likely disease-causing variants in eleven specific genes associated with childhood cancer. The findings were notably significant for retinoblastoma, a malignant retinal tumor. Researchers identified pathogenic variants in the RB1 gene in 69 children, 68 of whom subsequently developed the tumor. While these findings do not guarantee a cancer diagnosis, they offer the potential for much earlier monitoring and intervention before symptoms appear. This research suggests that existing newborn screening protocols, which currently detect over 30 genetic conditions in countries such as Austria, could potentially be expanded to include cancer risks. In Germany, discussions are also advancing regarding genomic newborn screening (gNBS) to identify hundreds of additional conditions through targeted genomic analysis before symptoms appear. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: Genetic testing of newborn blood could reveal childhood cancer risks Researchers found that DNA from newborn blood samples can identify genetic variants linked to an increased risk of childhood cancer, potentially allowing for earlier medical monitoring. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/genetic-testing-of-newborn-blood-could-reveal-childhood-cancer-risks ### 2026-08-26: Newborn blood samples may reveal childhood cancer risks New research suggests newborn blood samples can identify genetic risks for childhood cancers, such as retinoblastoma, potentially expanding the scope of routine genomic newborn screening. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/newborn-blood-samples-may-reveal-childhood-cancer-risks --- Cite as: Newborn blood screening for childhood cancer risks. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/newborn-blood-screening-for-childhood-cancer-risks