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Transient tyrosinemia has been found in approximately 1.8% of all infants in Massachusetts tested within the first 6 weeks of life (2,085 infants out of a total screened population of 117,752). About 24% have been full-term by weight and gestational criteria. In general, infants with lower birth weights had more marked tyrosinemia. However, several babies with average or above average birth weights had blood tyrosine concentrations of 10 mg/100 ml to more than 20 mg/100 ml, and in a few of these latter infants the tyrosinemia lasted as long as 9 to 13 weeks after birth. The infants have been clinically well.

The conclusions which must be drawn from the data on early detection of phenylketonuria (PKU) reported by Berry et al in The Journal of Aug 24, 1964 (189:641), are different from those reported by Allen and Wilson in The Journal of May 25, 1964 (188:720). On the basis of three phenylketonuric patients who had positive ferric chloride tests in the first eight days of life (and seven others aged 17 to 54 days with positive tests) Allen challenged the accepted view that the ferric chloride test is not of great value in early infancy. An editorial in The Journal (188:748 [May 25] 1964) commenting on Allen's paper stated, "It is recommended that a positive blood test should always be followed by a urine test, and treatment should not be initiated until the urine test becomes positive...."Berry et al tested 17 newborn sibs of known phenylketonurics. Of

TO THE EDITOR:— It occurred to me that a preliminary published note regarding the 10-month experience of Massachusetts in the nation-wide phenylketonuria (PKU) newborn screening project might be of value to physicians and health officers of other states.In the nation-wide program sponsored by the Children's Bureau, using the Guthrie bacterial inhibition assay on heel blood,1 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health went far beyond the quota assigned to the state, and in mid-July, 1962, offered the program to all maternity hospitals in the state. With three cases discovered within the first 4 months of the program, participation grew rapidly, and by midwinter all maternity hospitals in the state, including the military hospitals with obstetrical services, were enrolled.In the large number of newborn babies tested to date, the filter-paper blood screening test has worked very well. We have not been unduly troubled with false-positive reactions, and the test