Newborn bloodspot screening

What newborn bloodspot screening is, how the test is done and what happens to your baby's sample.

About newborn bloodspot screening

All babies can have free bloodspot screening, also known as a heel prick test.

It screens for rare but serious conditions that may not show any signs or symptoms in babies. Finding these conditions early means treatment can start sooner and may prevent serious health problems.

Learn more about newborn bloodspot screening

• Read our Newborn bloodspot screening fact sheet (PDF, 327KB).
• Watch a video about newborn bloodspot screening on Vimeo.
• Learn more about the Australian Government Newborn Bloodspot Screening program.

What we screen for

Newborn bloodspot screening tests for more than 30 conditions, including:

• cystic fibrosis
• sickle cell disease
• hypothyroidism
• phenylketonuria.

Pathology Queensland tests the samples using targeted gene sequencing (TGS). This means only genes linked to conditions included in the screening program are tested.

Read more about targeted gene sequencing and newborn bloodspot screening.

Learn more about the conditions screened on the Australian Government website.

Collecting the blood sample

The test is usually done when your baby is 2 to 3 days old. If you leave hospital before the test is done, your baby can have it at some outpatient clinics. If you give birth at home, a midwife can do the test there.

A health professional will prick your baby's heel with a small needle and collect a few drops of blood on a special card.

Your baby may feel some pain or discomfort during the test.

To help the blood flow you can:

• warm your baby's foot using socks or a blanket
• cuddle your baby with their feet hanging down.

To comfort your baby, you can:

• wrap or swaddle them
• hold them skin to skin
• feed them before or during the test.

Getting the results

You'll only be contacted if your baby needs another sample or more testing.

Giving your consent

We need your consent before your baby can have the screening. You’ll be asked to sign the consent section on the screening card.

You can change your mind at any time by telling your health care team. If your baby has already been tested, the results will stay in their medical record, but you can choose not to get them.

Storing your baby’s screening card

We securely store your baby’s screening card for up to 28 years.

You can ask us to destroy the card after 2 years by emailing the Newborn Screening Laboratory at nnsu.pathology@health.qld.gov.au.

Protecting your baby’s information and privacy

We protect your baby’s blood sample and screening information under Australian privacy laws.

This means we:

• store the sample securely and only authorised staff can access it
• store information from the sample separately from your baby’s name to protect their identity
• only share your baby’s results with the health professionals involved in their care
• won’t share your baby’s information without your permission unless required by law.

Your baby’s results won’t include any information about their genes unless screening finds a possible condition and they need more tests.

Contact us for more information

Talk to your GP, midwife or nurse if you have any questions about the screening. You can also email the Newborn Screening Laboratory at nnsu.pathology@health.qld.gov.au.

For information about metabolic disorders, contact the Department of Metabolic Medicine, Queensland Children’s Hospital on 07 3068 1111.