All About Newborn Screening Tests

What: A newborn screening test is an important procedure that is required of every baby in the United States after delivery.

When: When your baby is about 1 to 2 days old.

Where: In the hospital.

Why: To identify serious health conditions at birth. The earlier the condition is identified, the earlier treatments can start, which may lessen the severity of the condition.

How: The physician, nurse, or other trained hospital staff will fill out a newborn screening card (pictured below). The screening involves three main components, although the number and type of tests varies by state.

(1) Blood test/heel stick- The baby’s heel will be pricked to collect a small sample of blood, a couple drops of blood will be put on the filter paper part (the circles) of the screening card and be sent out to a lab for testing.

(2) Heart screening/pulse oximetry- This test checks for critical congenital heart defects using a pulse ox that measures how much oxygen is in your baby’s blood.

(3) Hearing screening- This test is often performed while your baby is asleep. The trained staff will put tiny headphones on your baby and use a computer to see how your baby responds to the sounds.