What screening tests do newborns get?

Many screens.: In most states, newborns are screened for elevated blood pressure, congenital cyanotic heart disease (with oxygen level), jaundice and hearing loss in the hospital. At 48 hours of age (in indiana), a newborn screen is done with heelstick and tests for sickle cell and other anemias, thyroid disease, metabolic disorders, including pku and cystic fibrosis. Some (not all) infants have a blood type.

Blood and hearing : Around 24 hours old babies should have blood drawn for a newborn screen and bilirubin. The newborn screen is a test that looks for genetic and metabolic diseases (the number of diseases tested varies by state). The results usually come back in 3 weeks. The bilirubin will come back in a few hours and is a measure of jaundice in the baby. Newborns also get a hearing test before hospital discharge.