During your baby’s first days of life, he or she will undergo several newborn screenings (NBS) to gain a better understanding of the baby’s overall health. Newborns in the United States are screened for rare but serious health conditions. These screenings help identify potential concerns early, often before symptoms appear, allowing for timely treatment and care.

Even though every state in the U.S. requires NBS, each state manages its own NBS program. This means NBS can vary slightly from state to state. Your caregivers can help you best understand how these screenings in your state will be performed.

What to Expect: Three Routine Newborn Screening Tests

1. Blood Spot Screening

Blood spot screening, often called the heel stick test, uses a few drops of blood from your baby's heel to screen for a variety of rare but serious health conditions.

How the Screening Works

• The test is typically performed 24 to 48 hours after birth.
• Your baby can remain swaddled during the screening.
• A healthcare provider gently warms your baby's foot, then makes a quick prick on the heel to collect a few drops of blood.
• The blood is placed on a special screening card and sent to a laboratory for testing.

The heel prick may cause brief discomfort, but it is quick and leaves no lasting mark.

Getting the Results

Results are usually available within five to seven days and are sent to your baby's healthcare provider. If additional follow-up is needed, you will be contacted by your provider or the state's newborn screening program.

Be sure to ask about your baby's newborn screening results at an early well-child visit. Early detection can help ensure prompt treatment and better outcomes.

2. Hearing Screening

Your baby will receive a hearing screening before he or she goes home. This screening is painless and takes just 10-20 minutes to complete. Newborn hearing screening uses earbuds or earphones to check your baby’s hearing.

How Newborn Hearing Screening Works

Newborn hearing screening is typically performed after your baby is 12 hours old. A healthcare provider will let you know when it's time for the screening.

The screening works best when your baby is calm and in a quiet environment. Your baby may remain swaddled, and you may be asked to hold them during the test.

Two safe, quick and painless screening methods may be used:

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): Small earbuds placed in your baby's ears play soft sounds. A computer measures how the inner ear responds to those sounds.
• Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR): Earphones play soft sounds while small sensors placed on your baby's head and neck measure how the ears and brain respond.

Results are available immediately after the screening. A baby may not pass the screening due to hearing loss, temporary fluid in the ears or factors such as movement, crying or background noise during the test.

If your baby does not pass the screening, you'll be referred to a specialist for additional testing, usually within one to two weeks. Early follow-up helps ensure timely evaluation and care if needed.

3. Pulse Oximetry Screening

Pulse oximetry screening checks for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD), a group of serious heart conditions present at birth. Some forms of CCHD can lower the amount of oxygen in a baby's blood, making early detection important.

How the Screening Works

• The screening is typically performed 24 to 48 hours after birth.
• A healthcare provider places a soft sensor on your baby's right hand or wrist and one foot.
• The sensor measures the oxygen level in your baby's blood.
• Results are available immediately.

If your baby does not pass the screening, the test may be repeated, or additional evaluation may be recommended. If further testing is needed, your baby's healthcare provider may order tests such as an echocardiogram, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or a chest X-ray to check how the heart and lungs are functioning. These tests are often performed right away to ensure your baby receives any necessary care.

Protecting Your Newborn from Day One

These newborn screening tests help ensure all babies are screened for certain serious conditions at birth and can allow doctors to start treatment immediately.

Source:
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Newborn Screening