Doctor Hopeful for Automatic Testing of Triple-H

Doctor Hopeful for Automatic Testing of Triple-H

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 14:07

A doctor in the north says he’s hopeful automatic testing can begin for a rare condition found primarily in Northwestern Metis families.

Dr. James Irvine is one of the people who has been researching the Triple-H syndrome.

So far it has been detected in Northern Quebec and predominantly Metis communities in Northwestern Saskatchewan.

Irvine says genetic links among families could be the reason why the syndrome is mainly detected in those regions.

Irvine says the syndrome is treatable with diet and other things once it is detected.

He’s hopeful the test for the syndrome can be incorporated into the provincial newborn screening program so that no additional tests would be required to determine if babies in the area have the syndrome or not.