This text is from the Newborn Screening brochure produced by North Dakota Health & Human Services.
What is Newborn Screening
Newborn screening is a three-part test that checks babies to see if they are at increased risk of having serious health conditions. Newborn screening includes blood spot, hearing and heart screening. Each year in North Dakota, there are approximately 60 babies identified with a condition through newborn screening.
Blood Spot Screen
A small blood sample is taken from your baby’s heel, placed on a filter card and sent to a special laboratory for testing. This testing helps find health conditions that can affect a baby’s hormones, blood, nervous system, or how they process foods. Early detection can help prevent serious health problems, disability and even death.
Hearing Screen
Small earphones or ear buds are placed on or in the ear to check if your baby can hear or respond to sounds. Early identification of a hearing loss or deafness helps babies stay on track with speech, language and communication skills.
Heart Screen
A small sensor, placed on your baby’s hand and foot, is used to check the amount of oxygen in your baby’s blood. Low levels of oxygen in the blood may be caused by a serious heart problem known as critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). If detected early, babies with a serious heart problem can often be treated with medical interventions or surgery.
Why does my baby need newborn screening?
A baby can have a condition even if the look and act healthy at birth. There is often no family history of these conditions and babies must be identified early and treat quickly to prevent serious health problems, disability and even death.
Newborn screening is a simple step toward a healthy start for your baby!
Be sure to ask for your baby’s newborn screening results at their first newborn visit.
“When I first heard my son’s newborn blood spot screen came back positive, it was hard to believe because he looked so healthy and he was just perfect! It was not easy to come to terms with the fact that he would live with the diagnosis of Phenylketonuria (PKU) for the rest of his life; however, without newborn screening, my son could have developed serious health problems that led to intellectual disabilities, behavior issues and brain damage.
Because of newborn screening, he has an amazing quality of life and reminds us on a daily basis of what a miracle he is.”
- Abbi, Mother of a son with PKU
When will my baby have newborn screening?
- All three newborn screening tests are best performed 24 hours after birth.
- This timing helps to ensure testing is accurate and affected babies are found early.
What conditions will my baby be screened for?
- State law requires newborn blood spot and heart screening for babies born in North Dakota; however, parents may choose not to have their baby tested.
- See the list of health conditions that newborn screening can help identify in North Dakota.
- More details about health conditions North Dakota screens for
- Newborn screening is a simple step toward a healthy start for your baby.
When can I expect results?
- Hearing and heart screening results will be available on the same day the screening occurs and should be shared with you right away.
- Blood spot screening results will be available within the first week of life and will be shared with your baby’s health care provider.
- If your baby has a result that requires follow-up, your baby’s health care provider will contact you for further testing.
Be sure to ask for your baby’s newborn screening results at their first newborn visit.
“We’re so grateful for the newborn hearing screen—it gave us answers we didn’t even know we needed. The screening did not create a diagnosis, it simply helped to discover our son’s diagnosis of hearing loss sooner.
Because of early identification, we were able to pursue hearing aids and begin learning sign language as a family and eventually decided to move forward with cochlear implants - all during a crucial window for language development.
Today, we have a happy, curious toddler who babbles, giggles, and is learning new words every day in both speech and sign! Early detection gave him (and us) the tools to support his development from the very beginning.”
- Marly, Mother of a son with Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss
CONTACT: North Dakota Newborn Screening program
Phone: 701-328-2436, TTY 711
Email: nbs@nd.gov
Website: hhs.nd.gov/cfs/newborn-screening
North Dakota Health & Human Services' Newborn Screening brochure publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Cooperative Agreement # 6 UC1MC53082 for $357,800. This content is those of the authors and may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.