Blood is routinely drawn from newborn infants for testing. Blood is
obtained by "heel stick" and collected on a special blotter paper.
Routine testing includes phenylketonuria and blood type. Many
hospitals include other tests such as thyroid function, hemoglobin
S (sickle cell disease), or may test for other blood disorders
(hemoglobinopathies). Testing can be tailored to the local
population, taking into account race and ethnic background in
determining what routine testing should be done.
Review Date: 06/17/2011
Reviewed By: Kimberly G Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics,
Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also
reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
