Newborn bloodspot screening
What is newborn bloodspot screening?
Newborn bloodspot screening is when a small sample of blood is taken from the baby’s heel, on day five of the baby’s life. This blood sample is screened for rare but serious conditions that can cause serious illness or even death if not treated early.
Taking part in screening is something you can do to look after your baby’s health.
The aim is to offer all eligible babies screening for rare but serious conditions that would benefit from early intervention and reduce mortality and or morbidity from the condition.
This animation gives information on the bloodspot screening test that you will be offered for your baby once they are born. It shows how the test is taken and explains the conditions being screened for.
What are newborn babies screened for?
In Wales all babies are offered screening for the following conditions:
- Inherited metabolic disorders
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CHT)
- Cystic fibrosis (CF)
- Sickle cell disorders (SCD)
Screening for all of the conditions is recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.
What to expect at the screening appointment
Learn who takes your baby’s bloodspot sample, how the heel prick test is done, what happens if a repeat sample is needed, and how to access screening if you’re not using NHS maternity services.
About newborn bloodspot screeningGet in touch
Further information
Reports
Newborn bloodspot screening programme reports
Data
Newborn bloodspot screening uptake/coverage data
No data found for this topic