Newborn screening is a blood test done shortly after your baby's birth to test for treatable diseases that are not usually apparent in the newborn period. Early detection of these diseases leads to effective treatment and can prevent serious health problems for your baby in the future. This test involves a prick on your baby's heel in order for your health care provider to collect a small amount of blood. This blood is then sent to Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) where it is tested for 29 diseases.
These include five main kinds of diseases related to your baby's metabolism (how well the body can break down certain substances found in food), endocrine function (how well the body can make and control hormones), blood, immune system (how well the body can fight infections) and cystic fibrosis (a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system).
The results are usually ready in a few days and are reported back to the hospital/midwife who delivered your baby. In most cases, the screening tests will show that your newborn is at low risk for these diseases and no further testing is required. In some cases, another sample may be required to complete the screening and you may be contacted by the hospital or midwife who delivered your baby to have a repeat sample collected. If the screening test shows that your baby is at an increased risk to have one of these disorders, you will be contacted by your baby's healthcare provider or a specialist to coordinate additional diagnostic testing.
There are things you can do to help comfort your baby and reduce their pain and distress during their newborn screening blood test, such as chest/breastfeeding before and during the newborn screening, or if this is not possible, holding your baby skin-to-skin against your chest. Partners can also hold the baby skin-to-skin. If neither of these are possible, the person doing the blood test can give your baby a very small amount of sucrose or glucose to suck to reduce your baby's discomfort during these procedures.
For more information on newborn screening tests and what to expect, please visit the links below.