When your baby is between five to eight days old, your community midwife will offer the newborn blood spot test. The test involves collecting four small samples of blood from your baby’s foot on a card.The test screens for nine rare but serious conditions, such as sickle cell disease, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis and congenital hypothyroidism.For those babies identified with any of the conditions screened for, we know that early treatment can improve their health and prevent further serious or life threatening complications.If your baby was born early (before 37 weeks gestation) the test may be done in the maternity unit by the neonatal team. More information can be found in the ‘Screening tests for you and your baby’ booklet.
When your baby is between five to eight days old, your community midwife will offer the newborn blood spot test. The test involves collecting four small samples of blood from your baby’s foot on a card.
The test screens for nine rare but serious conditions, such as sickle cell disease, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis and congenital hypothyroidism.
For those babies identified with any of the conditions screened for, we know that early treatment can improve their health and prevent further serious or life threatening complications.
If your baby was born early (before 37 weeks gestation) the test may be done in the maternity unit by the neonatal team. More information can be found in the ‘Screening tests for you and your baby’ booklet.