Newborn Blood Spot Screening

Contact Us: (405) 426-8310

Every baby born in Oklahoma is required to have a blood test within the first week of life. This test requires a small amount of blood to be collected from a baby’s heel. This blood test, commonly called the newborn blood spot screen, helps find infants with certain hidden disorders. Babies with these disorders often appear healthy at birth. Without this blood test, it is difficult for doctors to know if a baby has one of these disorders. Failure to treat a baby who has one of these disorders within the first month of life can lead to cognitive or intellectual disabilities, severe illness, or death.

Every year in the United States, about 12,500 babies are born with one of the disorders included in the Oklahoma newborn screening panel¹. These babies look healthy at birth and often come from families with no history of a disorder. Once symptoms appear, there can be severe health problems or even death. Most babies that are found to have a disorder identified through newborn blood spot screening receive early treatment and grow up healthy.

The Newborn Screening Blood Spot Program works with the Oklahoma Public Health Newborn Screening Laboratory. This partnership allows us to provide follow up services for families who have infants born in Oklahoma and have out of range screen results. The newborn screening goal is to prevent disabilities or death through early detection and treatment. Education and quality assurance activities are provided for health care professionals and birthing facilities.

General Information

The Newborn Screening program is regulated by the Oklahoma Legislature. Rules and regulations have been established to ensure infants at risk of these disorders receive prompt care and treatment. A link to the current rules and regulations can be found here:

Rules and Regulations

1963	Screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) began.
1965	Legislation was enacted giving the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) the authority to set rules and regulations for a Newborn Screening Program.
1979	Screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) began.
1991	Screening for sickle cell anemia (SCD) and other hemoglobin disorders began. Screening for classic galactosemia (GAL) began.
2005	Screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) began.
2006	Screening for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD) began.
2008	Screening for additional amino acid disorders (AAD), additional fatty acids disorders (FAOD), and organic acid disorders (OAD) began.
2010	Screening for biotinidase deficiency (BIO) began.
2015	Screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) began.
2021	Screening began for Pompe disease, mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
2022	Statute was updated allowing the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) to add disorders as recommended by the recommended universal screening panel (RUSP) to the extent practicable.

Health Care Providers

Learn More

Parents

Learn More

Contact Information:

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Newborn Blood Spot Screening Program
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Phone: (405) 426-8310
Toll Free: (800) 766-2223
Fax: (405) 900-7556
E-Mail: newbornscreen@health.ok.gov

Disclaimer: If you need information in a language other than English, please call 405-426-8310 where an interpreter can be used. Spanish brochures are available upon request.

References:
1. CDC. (2012). CDC Grand Rounds: Newborn screening and improved outcomes. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 61(21), 390–393. Retrieved September 21,2023, from:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6121a2.htm