1. Who is tested?

2. Why are babies tested?

3. When are babies tested?

4. For what disorders are babies tested?

5. How will I know the results of the tests?

6. Where can I get more information about newborn screening?

Who is tested?

• All babies born in Arizona.

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Why are babies tested?

• Our tests could save your baby's life.
  
• We test all Arizona babies and help those who have certain rare, inherited diseases or hearing loss.
  
• Most babies are healthy when they are born.  A few babies look healthy but have a rare health problem.
  
• If the problem is found early, we can help prevent serious results like mental retardation or death.
  
• Correcting hearing loss will help your child learn speech and language.  About three in every one thousand babies have some degree of hearing loss.
  
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When are babies tested?

• Before they leave the hospital, a nurse will take a few drops of blood from your baby's heel.  The hospital will also do the hearing test.
  
• The hospital will send the blood sample to the newborn screening lab.
  
• Arizona collects two blood samples to ensure no disorders are missed.
  
• Call your baby's doctor about the second blood sample.

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For what disorders are babies tested?

Arizona babies are tested for 29 disorders including hearing loss. 

6 amino acid disorders (including PKU) 5 fatty acid oxidation disorders (including MCADD) 9 organic acid disorders Biotinidase deficiency Classic galactosemia Congenital hypothyroidism Congenital adrenal hyperplasia 3 hemoglobin diseases Cystic Fibrosis Hearing Loss

For the complete list of disorders [PDF 24K]. 

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How will I know the results of the test? 

Blood Spot results:

• Ask your baby's doctor.

• A second test will be done.  Make sure you give the doctor's office your current address and phone number.

Hearing Results:

• Ask your baby's doctor.

• The hospital will write results on the back of the immunization record.  Bring the immunization record to your baby's doctor.

• A second test may be done.  Make sure you give the doctor's office your current address and phone number.