Get Missouri Department Of Health Newborn Screen Order Forms

The purpose of newborn screening is to detect potentially fatal or disabling conditions in newborns as early as possible, often before the infant displays any signs or symptoms of a disease or condition.

The blood spot test is not compulsory, but it's recommended because it could save your baby's life. You can choose to have screening for sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis or congenital hypothyroidism individually, but you can only choose to have screening for all 6 inherited metabolic diseases or none at all.

Blood collection from the heel is the standard for newborn screening. The medial and lateral parts of the underfoot are preferred.

The baby's blood is collected in five circles on the newborn screening card. This is called a heel- stick or dried blood spot (also called DBS) sample. The DBS is used to test for a specific group of condi- tions. Small pieces of the DBS are punched out and used to perform the newborn screen.

There are three parts to newborn screening: the blood test (or heel stickWhen the baby's heel is pricked to collect a sample of blood for newborn screening); the hearing screen; and pulse oximetry.

Even if your baby looks healthy, the Newborn Screen Blood Test will show if they are born with or at risk to have a rare genetic, hormone-related or metabolic disorder. If these disorder(s) are not found early, a child can develop serious health problems or die.

Blood collection from the heel is the standard for newborn screening. The medial and lateral parts of the underfoot are preferred.

All newborns are screened for more than 70 disorders, including hearing loss and critical congenital heart disease. A small sample of blood is collected from your baby's heel shortly after birth and is then sent to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services State Public Health Laboratory.

The blood sample for ENBS may be collected by any of the following: physician, nurse, medical technologist or trained midwife.