Newborn Screening Collection Information

Over 99% of the babies born in California receive newborn screening. Newborn screening is provided for all newborns except those whose parents have declined for religious reasons. 

To complete the newborn screening, providers take a sample of newborn blood by the second day of the newborn's life using a heel-stick procedure. 

State regulations require providers to collect a blood sample between 12 and 48 hours of life. If for any reason the newborn screen is collected prior to 12 hours (e.g., red blood cell transfusion, discharge earlier than 12 hours), a second blood sample collection will be required.

Timeliness Goals, California Newborn Screening Program, CDPH, 2:42 minutes, English

Resources

• Collection Poster (PDF): Steps to collect the newborn screening sample 
• Inadequate Specimen Poster (PDF): Top five reasons for an inadequate newborn screening heel-stick sample
  
• Transport Log (PDF): For the collection facility (to re-order transport logs)
  
• TRF Instructions (PDF): How to fill out the TRF correctly
  

• Shipping Instructions (PDF): How to ship samples