Newborn heelstick screening is a special blood test collected on all babies born in Utah. Newborn screening checks to make sure your baby is healthy.

What is Newborn Screening?

  • Utah has over 50,000 births every year. By law, every newborn in Utah receives the Newborn Screening test.
  • Newborn Screening identifies common and rare disorders that are all treatable when identified before a health crisis. 
  • Many of our disorders are not noticeable by looking at your baby. Serious problems, including mental retardation and sometimes death, can be prevention if the disorders are discovered early through newborn screening.

Why does my baby need newborn screening?

In general, all of the disorders that are detected by newborn screening tests are those that cause problems with an infant’s physical and mental development. The screening tests detect conditions including metabolic, hormone and blood disorders. Babies born with one of these disorders can appear not to be ill in the newborn period. Also, there may be no known family history of one of these diseases.

Even though these disorders are rare, early diagnosis along with timely and appropriate treatment can make the difference between healthy development and life-threatening problems.

 When will my baby receive these screenings?  

  • In Utah, we collect two Newborn Screenings. 
    • The first screen is collected between 24-48 hours, often before your baby goes home from the hospital. 
    • The second screen is collected between 7 and 28 days of life at the office of the baby’s health care provider.

What disease will my baby be checked for?

Newborn screening check for diseases that can cause problems with the way the body gets energy, how the body makes hormones, or how the body makes blood cells. For a complete list of diseases your baby will be checked for, talk to your health care provider or visit newbornscreening.health.utah.gov/disorders/.

For more information, visit newbornscreening.health.utah.gov