Newborn Blood Spot Screening Results:
Your child’s newborn screening results should be available within the first week of life, if you have not received the results, contact your child’s health care provider. Please do not assume no news is good news. If you receive a phone call from your child’s health care provider requesting further testing, this does not necessarily mean that your child has a condition; however, further testing is needed. Some reasons why repeat screenings or additional testing is needed include:
- Borderline results - the results were slightly out of range
- Early collection - the specimen was collected before 24 hours of age
- Treatment/Medication Interference - some can interfere with the results
- Quality of the sample – the blood collected was not able to be processed due to insufficient quantity, blood clots or other factors that may impact the testing
Please contact your child's health care provider to obtain a copy of their newborn screening results. If they are unable to provide you a copy, you may request your child's report online by completing the request for newborn screening report.
Newborn Screening Return of Blood Spot Card:
North Dakota (ND) newborn screening specimens are processed at the University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory and returned to a secure facility in ND for storage after two months. The blood spot cards are currently stored for 18 years according to Chapter 33-06-16 Newborn Screening Program. The Newborn Screening Program does not perform any additional testing on blood spot cards. No research will be done on your child's blood spot card without parental consent.
Families may benefit from having their child's blood spot card stored. If a child gets sick, the blood spot card can help to see if something at birth may have been the cause. A blood spot card may also be used to identify a missing or deceased child or if the parents request information for future pregnancies.
If you would like your child's blood spot card returned to you, please complete the request form below. Storage, destruction and further testing is your responsibility if the card is returned to you. Request for return of blood spot card.
Newborn Blood Spot Screening Refusal:
In North Dakota, newborn screening is mandatory; however, the parent/guardian may refuse. If you are considering refusing the screening, please discuss your concerns with your baby's health care provider or midwife.
To refuse the screening, parents/guardians must have read and received written information about newborn screening. A signed refusal form must be sent to the Newborn Screening program within 6 days after testing is refused. Newborn Blood Spot Screening Refusal Form.