Skip to main content

Avoiding Unsatisfactory Newborn Screening Specimens

All Newborn Screening (NBS) specimens will be examined for quality upon receipt at the MDHHS NBS Lab. Unsatisfactory specimens will require that a repeat specimen is collected. Notification of the need for a repeat specimen will be faxed to the submitter and the primary care provider listed on the NBS card.

Unsatisfactory specimens result in:

  • Critical time delays in identifying disorders
  • Additional work for hospital and NBS staff
  • Unnecessary burden on parents who must bring their baby back for a repeat screen
  • Infant distress caused by the need for a repeat specimen collection
  • Increased cost to the hospital for repeat lab charges

 

Tips to Avoid Unsatisfactory NBS Specimens: