Infant Screening

Most babies are born healthy and normal. However, there are some health problems that may not be detected by your baby's physician. This is why blood tests are used to screen newborns for these problems.

How will these tests help protect your baby?

Newborn screening helps health care providers and parents take steps to prevent serious health problems. In North Carolina, babies are screened for over thirty disorders including; hypothyroidism, PKU, Galactosemia, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Sickle Cell Anemia and others. Since symptoms are not always obvious at birth, newborn screening can diagnose these problems before damage occurs. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent mental retardation, serious physical disabilities or death.

How and where is your baby tested?

Before your baby leaves the hospital nursery, his heel is pricked and a few drops of blood are collected. This blood is sent to the State Public Health Laboratory in Raleigh for testing. Your pediatrician will contact you if there are any problems.

For more information about newborn screening please contact your pediatrician or call the March of Dimes Resource Center at 1-888-MODIMES.