What it means
A public health program in every US state. A few drops of blood from a heel stick go on a special card, usually after the baby is 24 hours old and has been feeding. The lab checks for dozens of conditions that can be treated if found early, such as phenylketonuriafen-ul-kee-toh-NOOR-ee-uhAn inherited disorder in which the body cannot break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein foods.phenyl- phenyl group (in phenylalanine)keton ketone-uria in the urineFull entry , congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and SCIDSKIDSevere combined immunodeficiency: a group of rare inherited disorders in which the immune system barely works from birth.Full entry . Hearing and a pulse oximetry check for heart defects are part of it.
For the nurse
Warm the heel and use the outer side of the heel to avoid the bone. Fill each circle on the card with one large drop from one side only, and let it dry flat. If the baby goes home before 24 hours old, teach the parents to return for a repeat test.
In a chart
"Newborn screen collected by heel stick at 30 hours of age; circles filled completely."
At a glance
| Normal range | Each condition is reported as normal (in range) or out of range; an out-of-range result needs a repeat or a confirming test, not a diagnosis. |
|---|---|
| Also written | heel stick screen, newborn screen |
Related terms
hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.
phenylketonuria
An inherited disorder in which the body cannot break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein foods.
SCID
Severe combined immunodeficiency: a group of rare inherited disorders in which the immune system barely works from birth.