DNA Lady
While most babies are healthy when they are born, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) routinely screens new babies to help prevent serious problems like mental retardation or death.
Prior to discharge from the hospital, your nurse or health care provider will take a few drops of blood from your baby's heel. The hospital will then send the blood samples to a newborn screening laboratory.
If there is a problem, the HRSA will notify parents and health care providers immediately. However, since there is so much going on during the first few weeks of your new baby's life, it is important for you to specifically ask for the results. If you leave the hospital or place of birth, prior to 24 hours after giving birth, the HRSA may ask for the baby to be retested. Some states require that all babies be tested, twice for accuracy. Some babies may need to be retested because the original sample was not sufficient to complete testing. A few babies may need to be retested because the first test showed a possible health problem.
If you are requested to bring in baby for retesting, do not become concerned until you have spoken to your healthcare provider and they explain the circumstances. As stated above, it just may be routine for your State to test twice. However, if you do receive a call or notice to have your baby retested, get it done right away. In the process, insure that your health care provider and the hospital have your updated contact information including home address, phone, email and nowadays - include your cell phone.
Your health care professional should be able to answer any of your questions. Do not be worry about your question being silly - unless you are a trained genetic counselor you may not understand the meaning of the tests but you have the right to a full explanation in terms you can understand.
Prior to discharge from the hospital, your nurse or health care provider will take a few drops of blood from your baby's heel. The hospital will then send the blood samples to a newborn screening laboratory.
If there is a problem, the HRSA will notify parents and health care providers immediately. However, since there is so much going on during the first few weeks of your new baby's life, it is important for you to specifically ask for the results. If you leave the hospital or place of birth, prior to 24 hours after giving birth, the HRSA may ask for the baby to be retested. Some states require that all babies be tested, twice for accuracy. Some babies may need to be retested because the original sample was not sufficient to complete testing. A few babies may need to be retested because the first test showed a possible health problem.
If you are requested to bring in baby for retesting, do not become concerned until you have spoken to your healthcare provider and they explain the circumstances. As stated above, it just may be routine for your State to test twice. However, if you do receive a call or notice to have your baby retested, get it done right away. In the process, insure that your health care provider and the hospital have your updated contact information including home address, phone, email and nowadays - include your cell phone.
Your health care professional should be able to answer any of your questions. Do not be worry about your question being silly - unless you are a trained genetic counselor you may not understand the meaning of the tests but you have the right to a full explanation in terms you can understand.
