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 a 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. Finding these conditions early 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 a baby can hear or respond to sounds. Finding a hearing loss or deafness early helps babies stay on track with speech, language and communication skills. 

Heart Screen
A small sensor, placed on a baby’s hand and foot, is used to check the amount of oxygen in a 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 found early, babies with a serious heart problem can often be treated with medical interventions or surgery.

A baby can have a condition even if they seem healthy at birth. These conditions may not run in families. Every condition tested for by newborn screening has a treatment. So, finding these conditions early helps babies get the care they need to prevent serious health problems, disability, and even death.