NEWBORN SCREENING TESTS

Neonatal screening tests are one of the most effective healthcare services for the detection of a possible metabolic health problem in infants who are born healthy. Thus, precautions can be taken before the problem is settled and the permanent effects occur, and response to treatment becomes more successful.

Newborn screening is performed in all health institutions in which births are carried out in order to prevent the irreversible permanent damage or death by early treatment in some of the congenital metabolic diseases.

1. Is the newborn screening test and the intelligence test (heel test) the same?

As an early diagnosis cannot be made in some of the diseases of congenital metabolism, this screening test is also known as intelligence test among people because mental retardation is accompanied by a picture. In fact, this test is not a test that determines the level of intelligence of the baby.

2. Intelligence test done during pregnancy

is it?

No two are completely different tests. In the second trimester of pregnancy (in the second trimester), the screening test applied to the mother is used to identify the possible cerebrospinal developmental diseases in the baby and some chromosomal diseases, especially Down Syndrome (Mongol baby). A screening test after birth is used to screen for potential problems in the baby's metabolism. This type of disease in the baby's intelligence development is affected, and the triple test in pregnancy is called the intelligence test among the public. However, the two tests performed during pregnancy and postpartum are different from each other.

3. When should the test be taken?

Each newborn screening sample should be taken between 3-6 days. So the baby, a while

protein-fed and non-digestible matter accumulates in the blood. No sample age

time should not exceed the first week. If a blood sample is taken in the first 24 hours, the second sample should be taken after 15 days due to the possibility of false negativity.

Blood samples can be taken at 1 week in infants who are treated with an incubator or antibiotic treatment, but the special condition of the baby is noted on the card which is taken from the blood sample.

4. How is the screening test done?

Blood samples taken from the heel are absorbed on a special paper and then sent to the laboratory where the assay will be done.

In standard screening tests, only phenylketonuria and hypothyroid scans are performed and in the centers with high economic and technological possibilities, more than 35 diseases can be screened with the same amount of blood.

5. How are test results reported?

In the standard screening test, only babies who have the possibility of disease are recalled. Comprehensive screening test results are reported to families.

6. What should be done if suspicious results are found in the screening test?

In new screening centers, a new blood sample is taken by calling newborns whose results are suspicious. For those who have a positive result in the second test, treatment and / or diet are started once more tests are performed, if necessary.

source: https://www.kidschildrenshealth.com/newborn-baby-reflexes/