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| Annual Performance Measures The Northwest Regional Newborn Screening Program screens newborns for endocrine, hemoglobin and metabolic disorders -- identifying infants who need immediate treatment to prevent developmental problems, mental retardation or death. Identified infants are tracked to ensure they receive appropriate medical care. Newborns routinely have specimens drawn for testing before discharge from the hospital. Some disorders for which we test are not detectable until the babies are at least 24 hours old, requiring second specimens for testing after hospital discharge. Specimens are drawn with a heel prick, and blood spots are put on a special filter paper collection kit which is sent to the laboratory for testing. Newborn screening kits are provided by the OSPHL upon prepaid request. Each year the program tests more than 200,000 specimens representing more than 100,000 babies. That's more than 1,200,000 tests per year! The Newborn Screening Progam is entirely supported by fees. The parents' pamphlet (.pdf) (9K), which explains the screening program is distributed when babies are discharged from the hospital. It contains information about the importance of newborn screening as well as the best time for the second specimen to be drawn (2 - 4 weeks). The Northwest Regional Newborn Screening Program distributes a Practitioner's Manual to all doctors, midwives, nurse practitioners and laboratorians who work with newborns. It includes information about screening practices, specimen collection, educational services, as well as more information about each of the following disorders:
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The Northwest Regional Newborn Screening Program conducts screening of all infants to prevent mental retardation and premature death in children through early detection and treatment of genetic disorders by:
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