Newborn Screening Tests

What is Newborn Bloodspot Screening?

Maine's Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program helps parent's find out if a baby has certain health conditions. Babies with these conditions may look healthy at birth. If not treated, these conditions can cause health problems such as mental retardation, slow growth, and even death. With treatment, these problems may be prevented.

How is my baby tested?

All of the tests are done on a few drops of blood taken by pricking your baby's heel. The blood is allowed to dry on a piece of special filter paper, which is sent to a screening laboratory for testing.

The blood sample is collected between 24 and 48 hours of life.

A blood sample take before 24 hours of age will not give complete results. If the sample was taken early, it is very important to have another test as soon as possible.