Newborn Screening Tests

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Risks

Results

Newborn Screening Tests

Alternative Names:

Infant screening tests

What the risks are:

Risks for the newborn heel prick blood sample include pain and possible bruising at the site where the blood was obtained.

Special considerations:

Newborn testing is critical for the baby to receive treatment that may be life saving. However, not all disorders that can be detected by the screening tests can be treated.

Although states do not perform all screening tests, parents can have additional tests done by qualified laboratories at large medical centers. Private laboratories also offer newborn screening. Parents can find out about extra newborn screening tests from their physician or hospital where the baby will be born, as well as through organizations like the March of Dimes.

References:

Graves JC, Miller KE, Sellers AD. Maternal serum triple analyte screening in pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Mar 1;65(5):915-20.

Grosse SD, Boyle CA, Cordero JF. Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Apr 15;71(8):1482, 1487.

Bryant KG, Horns KM, Longo N, Schiefelbein J. A primer on newborn screening. Adv Neonatal Care. 2004 Oct;4(5):306-17.

Carreiro-Lewandowski E. Newborn screening: an overview. Clin Lab Sci. 2002 Fall;15(4):229-38.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis: Evaluation of Benefits and Risks and Recommendations for State Newborn Screening Programs. J Pediatr. 2005 Sep;147(3 Suppl):S1.

Grosse SD, Boyle CA, Botkin JR, et al. Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis: evaluation of benefits and risks and recommendations for state newborn screening programs. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2004 Oct 15;53(RR-13):1-36.

Review Date: 5/6/2005
Reviewed By: Alan Greene, M.D., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine; Lucile Packard Children's Hospital; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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