Research & Evaluation
FASD Evaluation Project | FAS Surveillance | Birth Defects Registry | KABB
Alaska's Birth Defects Registry
Birth defects are the leading causes of infant mortality and morbidity in the United States. Prior to 1996, virtually no data on birth defects existed in Alaska, making improvement in public health programs difficult. In response to this, the Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR) was created effective January 1996. The authorizing regulations require all hospitals, physicians, surgeons, and other health care providers who have identified a patient with a birth defect to report to the Alaska Division of Public Health within three months of the date of diagnosis or treatment. The ABDR has established the ICD-9 codes 740-759 as reportable. In addition, the ABDR has chosen to be more inclusive than other registries by including neurofibromatosis, congenital hypothyroidism, adrenogenital disorders, disorders of metabolism and immune mechanism, hereditary hemolytic anemias, aplastic anemia, cerebral degenerations, spinocerebellar disease, anterior horn cell disease, infantile cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, pigmentary retinal dystrophy, and conditions such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as reportable conditions (ICD-9 codes 237.7, 243, 255.2, 277, 279,282, 284.0, 331, 334, 335, 343, 359, 362.74, 760.71 respectively).
Alaska's Birth Defects Registry Web Site
For more information you can contact the Registry staff in Anchorage at 907/269-3443.