Newborn Screening
Most newborns are born healthy and normal. However, there are some health problems that may not be detected on a routine exam by your baby´s physician. This is why blood tests are used to screen newborns for these problems. A filter paper blood spot sample is required by state law (GS 130A-125) to be submitted to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health for each infant born in North Carolina. The sample is tested for conditions that may cause mental retardation or death, if untreated. To prevent the effects of disease, the sample should be drawn during the infant´s first two to three days of life.
How and Where Your Baby is Tested?
Before your baby leaves the hospital nursery, his or her heel will be pricked and a few drops of blood will be collected. This blood specimen will be sent to the State Public Health Laboratory in Raleigh for testing.
What is Parents Role?
After you get home from the hospital, you may be contacted by your baby´s health care provider to bring your baby in for a repeat blood sample. It is important that you follow-up quickly. If you have any concerns about the results of the screening tests, please contact your baby´s health care provider.
To contact the Newborn Screening branch of the N.C. State Laboratory, call (919) 733-3937.
See also:
- Newborn Screening
- Disorders Tested
- Conditions Tested
- Specimen Collection
- Reporting
- Screening Update
- Form Training
