www.g4media.ro/peste-2-200-de-nou-nascuti-testati-

In 2026, over 2,200 infants were tested for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at Sibiu Pediatric Hospital, thanks to a volunteer initiative. The hospital received national recognition for its excellence in early diagnosis and prevention. The project utilized PCR testing infrastructure from the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting it for genetic screening of SMA. Six suspicions were identified, but follow-up tests confirmed the infants were healthy carriers. Timely diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, which can be administered locally, reducing the need for families to travel to Bucharest. Sibiu is one of two centers in Romania running this pilot program.