Inherited metabolic disease.

At present it is extremely doubtful if mass-population screening for any inherited 
metabolic disease other than phenylketonuria should be established beyond the few 
pilot studies at present in progress. For many diseases, although early 
detection is clearly desirable or the technical means of screening are 
available, even the establishment of pilot surveys is not yet indicated. 
Instead, methods of screening more limited populations at risk for particular 
disorders within a nationally coordinated administrative structure should be established. Those 
with experience of mass screening for more than one inherited metabolic 
disease must surely be convinced that in new programmes launched prematurely 
the harm caused by incomplete detection of cases or recognition of 
disorders whose management is uncertain or unavailable can far outweigh any 
benefits. 