Parents

• Baby's First Test
• English Brochure
• Spanish Brochure
• Refusal Form

Oklahoma screens for more than 50 hidden disorders. An inclusive list of disorders along with information for each disorder can be found at Baby's First Test. 

Having your infant diagnosed with a disorder can be overwhelming. There are numerous support organizations for families who have a loved one living with one of the disorders identified through newborn screening. There are support groups local to Oklahoma. 

• Oklahoma Family Network
• Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease
• Oklahoma Soonerstart
• Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Oklahoma Family Voices
• Oklahoma 2-1-1 Get connected. Get Answers

The links below are a comprehensive list of national support organizations that may benefit your family.

• Babies First Test
• Family Voices
• Parent to Parent USA

• What does my baby’s screening result mean?
  • Please contact your infant’s doctor for assistance with understanding your baby’s newborn blood spot screening results. If you have further questions, please call us at 405-426-8310 to speak with a newborn screening nurse. You may also email us at newbornscreen@health.ok.gov.
• My baby had an out-of-range screening result. Does this mean my baby is sick?
  • The newborn screen cannot diagnosis any infant with a disorder. It simply means your infant may be at a higher risk and that further follow up is needed.  Please speak with your infant’s doctor to determine what steps should be taken next.
• My baby flagged for a hemoglobin trait, does this mean my baby has sickle cell disease?
  • This does not mean your child has sickle cell disease! If your child was identified with a hemoglobin trait, a repeat newborn screen around 4 months of age is recommended. We may recommend genetic counseling to help you understand how this result impacts your child. Contact the newborn blood spot program for genetic counseling resources.
• I do not speak English. Are there resources available in my language?
  • Spanish brochures are available upon request. If you need information in a language other than English, please call 405-426-8310 where an interpreter can be used.
• Do I have to pay for the newborn screening test?
  • The Newborn Screening program does not directly bill families. For further information, please contact the facility where the newborn screen was collected.
• Does the newborn screen test my baby’s blood type?
  • The newborn screen does not test for blood types.
• Why do I need a sweat test if my baby’s screen was abnormal for Cystic Fibrosis?
  • The newborn screening panel does not test for all mutations that can cause Cystic Fibrosis. The doctors who take care of patients with this disorder recommend all infants who are at risk for Cystic Fibrosis have a sweat test to rule out having the disease. A sweat test is a painless procedure where the lab collects sweat to measure the amount of salt in it. The sweat test is offered free of charge for any infant with an abnormal cystic fibrosis screen result.
• How do I get the results of a newborn screen as requested by NCAA so my child can play collegiate sports?
  • If the athlete was born after 2000, an Oklahoma provider or local county health department can obtain the screening results through the newborn screen results portal. If you no longer live in Oklahoma, a medical provider should fax a signed release of information on clinic letterhead to 405-900-7556. Please include the name, date of birth, mother’s name at time of birth and birthing facility. Currently, we are unable to release verbal or physical results to any school or school representative unless a school medical provider is requesting the results. Please note, if the athlete is at least 18 years old, parents or legal guardians are not able to sign on behalf of the athlete or request screening results.
• Where can I have a newborn screen collected?
  • Newborn screens can be collected at any birthing hospital. This may require your baby’s doctor to send an order to the hospital to collect this screen. Some doctors also collect newborn blood spot screens in the office. Contact your baby’s doctor to determine their procedure. You may also contact your local county health department to collect a newborn screen. Please call ahead to make an appointment.
• I do not plan to give birth in a hospital. How can my baby get tested?
  • Many midwives offer to collect the newborn screen for you. If they do not, you may contact your infant’s doctor or a local county health department to have a screen collected.