Robert Guthrie (microbiologist)

Robert Guthrie
Born(1916-06-28)June 28, 1916
Marionville, MO
DiedJune 24, 1995(1995-06-24) (aged 78)
Seattle, WA
Known forInventing the bacterial inhibition assay used to screen newborns for phenylketonuria
Scientific career
FieldsMicrobiology
Metabolism
Newborn screening

Robert Guthrie, MD, Ph.D. (June 28, 1916 – June 24, 1995) was an American microbiologist, best known for developing the bacterial inhibition assay used to screen infants for phenylketonuria at birth, before the development of irreversible neurological damage.[1] Guthrie also pioneered the collection of whole blood on specially designed filter paper, commonly known as "Guthrie cards" as a sample medium that could be easily collected, transported and tested.[2] Although Guthrie is best known for developing the test for phenylketonuria, he worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the need to screen for treatable conditions and adapted his method to early screening tests for galactosemia and maple syrup urine disease.

  1. ^ Gonzalez, J.; Willis, M. S. (2009). "Robert Guthrie, MD, PhD: Clinical Chemistry/Microbiology". Laboratory Medicine. 40 (12): 748. doi:10.1309/LMD48N6BNZSXIPVH.
  2. ^ Koch, Jean (1997). Robert Guthrie: The PKU Story. Hope Publishing House. p. x. ISBN 978-0-932727-91-6.