Welsh hospitals have expanded the routine use of Genedrive’s MT-RNR1 genetic test to newborns, beginning on May 1, 2026, as part of a broader effort to prevent antibiotic-related hearing loss. The extension applies to admissions managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, covering approximately 750 cases annually in neonatal intensive care units. The move follows a successful pilot phase under the PALOH-UK programme, which recruited nearly 6,000 babies and identified more than 40 critically ill infants with the MT-RNR1 variant since the test’s UK launch. Clinicians have used the results to adjust antibiotic prescriptions, reducing the risk of hearing damage in affected infants.
Welsh NHS expands newborn genetic testing for hearing loss prevention
Welsh health boards extend routine use of Genedrive’s MT-RNR1 test to screen up to 750 neonatal ICU admissions annually, aiming to reduce antibiotic-induced hearing loss.
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Sophie Laurent · FX & Rates Desk · 19 Sept 2026 · 12:06 · 1 min read
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited by a Finance Review Daily journalist.
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Written by
Sophie Laurent
FX & Rates Desk
Sophie covers currency markets and central bank policy across Europe, with a focus on how rate decisions ripple through FX pairs. She has been tracking the ECB's policy path since the start of the current easing cycle.
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