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NJ Hospitals To Screen Newborns For Congenital Heart Defects

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey is the first state to require hospitals to check newborns for congenital heart defects.

Gov. Chris Christie signed the measure into law on Thursday.

The measure requires hospitals to perform a test which determines the amount of oxygen in the blood before a newborn is discharged. A low amount may indicate congenital heart disease.

The state Health Department says about 300 babies were born in New Jersey with the type of heart defect detected by pulse oximetry screening between 2008 and 2010.

About one in every 100 babies is born with congenital heart disease a year nationally.

Should this law be adopted by other states besides New Jersey? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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