Newborn Screenings

Newborn Screenings

Newborn screenings should be complete on every baby prior to leaving the hospital. These screenings started about 50 years ago in the 1960's.

1. One test takes a few drops of blood from the heel of a baby's foot. A quick needle prick releases enough blood to test for at least 30 inheritable disorders. Here is a small list of diseases that the drop of blood can help detect:

Amino acid metabolism disorders, Biotinidase deficiency

Cystic fibrosis, fatty acid metabolism disorders, Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria (PKU), Sickle Cell disease just to name a few.

2. Another test is a hearing test. This test simply measures the response a baby has to sound.

3. The third test checks for a congenital heart defect. A skin test can measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. A sensor is placed on the baby's skin. Another part of the sensor is attached to a device called an oximeter. The oximeter can measure the baby's oxygen levels in the hand and foot.

There is no preparation for the test. As stated above most of the newborn screenings are preformed before a baby leaves the hospital. The age range of the baby is 24 hours old to 7 days old.

If a baby tests positive for any of the screenings a follow up appointment can be made to further test the baby. Screenings do not diagnose illnesses; they simply alert the parents and doctors which babies need follow up tests.

A good website is http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/newborn-screening-tests.html

Another good resource is https://medlineplus.gov/newbornscreening.html#cat51