Newborn blood spot screening at the Rosie

Newborn blood spot screening identifies babies who may have rare but serious inherited conditions. We test for:

• cystic fibrosis
• sickle cell disease
• phenylketonuria
• congenital hypothyroidism
• Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD)

We operate within a national code of practice that sets out how long samples are kept and how they can be used. Once laboratory work is complete, we store the samples in the same way as the rest of the child's medical records until they are 18. They take the form of blood spots on a piece of blotting paper.

 

They have occasionally been used for anonymous research to improve the quality of the screening programme, but this is rare. There has been no research within the last five years.

 

The samples are also occasionally used if it becomes necessary to check whether a genetic problem was present at birth. Further parental consent is required before this can take place.

 

You can discuss these tests with your midwife before the samples are taken, and there is more information available on the national screening programme website:

 

> national screening programme

 

 

If you have further questions, please contact our Patient Advice & Liaison Service on 01223 216756.