What is newborn screening?

Some serious health problems cannot be detected by a routine physical exam of your newborn. Such diseases are usually rare, however, they can affect a baby's physical and mental development. Blood tests are used to screen for such conditions before symptoms develop. These screening tests do not diagnose illnesses, but they do identify which babies need additional testing to confirm or rule out illnesses.

In the United States, each individual state each regulates newborn screening, and the diseases screened for may vary considerably. North Carolina presently requires screening for more than 30 conditions. These newborn screening tests usually take place in the first 2-3 days of your baby's life. A health care professional carefully pricks the baby's heel and collects a few drops of blood on a special type of paper. This blood specimen is sent to the State Public Health Laboratory in Raleigh for testing.

If a screening test suggests a problem, the baby's doctor will follow up with further testing. If those tests confirm a problem, the doctor may refer the baby to a specialist for treatment. Following your doctor's treatment plan can save babies from lifelong health and developmental problems.

To learn more about newborn screening in the state of North Carolina, you may visit the web site of the NC Division of Public Health, http://slph.state.nc.us/Newborn.