Celebrating NICU heroes, big and small 

In the NICU, every moment matters. We are aware of the stakes you face each day—finding answers for critically ill newborns with complex, often puzzling presentations—and how critical it is to get it right the first time. 

That’s a tremendous amount of responsibility, one you carry alongside the fragile lives in your care in your NICU.  

We see you and we celebrate that tireless dedication. And we’re here to help.

A shared commitment to improving outcomes

Like you, we’re here in service of the same goal: helping every newborn get the best possible start. The NICU may be where the journey begins, but together, we can help shape where it goes next. 

This NICU Awareness Month, we’re celebrating your tireless dedication and shining a light on the recent SeqFirst-neo study¹ (originally published in the  American Journal of Human Genetics), which shows how broad access to rapid genomic sequencing can change the trajectory for newborns when the cause of illness is unclear. This simple protocol led to significantly more diagnoses than conventional care: 

What’s more, broadening access to rapid genome sequencing improved diagnostic yield, which enabled more personalized care and treatment options, sooner.

That’s why GeneDx offers rapid and ultraRapid genome sequencing, which can give results in as soon as 2 days.*

A powerful tool in the NICU 

Early genome sequencing has the power of timely diagnosis, quickly identifying an infant’s underlying genetic disease. Those health insights can help you move from tests to treatments.

1 in 3 infants in the NICU likely have a genetic disorder¹

Rapid genomic sequencing is currently ordered for fewer than 5% of eligible pediatric patients² 

90% of diagnoses made by rapid genome sequencing could not have been predicted by clinical features alone³

Together, we can help more families get out of the NICU and on to next steps

We know that every diagnosis represents countless hours of dedication from you and your team. Our role is to stand alongside you, offering the genomic insights you need to move from uncertainty to action. Because clearer, faster answers can help reduce unnecessary interventions, inform timely care decisions, and support better outcomes for critically ill infants. 

Reference: 1. Wenger T, Scott A, Kruidenier L, et al. Am J Hum Genet. 2025; 112, 1–15. 2. Kingsmore, Stephen F et al. NPJ Genomic Medicine vol. 9,1 17. 27 Feb. 2024. 3. French CE, Delon I, Dolling H, et al. Intensive Care Med. 2019 May;45(5):627-636.

*Turnaround times are estimates and begin once the sample(s) begin processing at the GeneDx lab and could be extended in situations outside GeneDx’s control.