NEWBORN SCREENING

FLOW OF
IMPLEMENTATION
 Motivation of Parents

Collection of Blood Samples

Sending of Samples to Lab

Laboratory Test

Releasing of Results

Recalling of Patients

Management of Cases
 Step 1. Motivating or
informing parents about NBS

 inform parents or legal guardians about

the nature and benefits of NBS
 Preferably during prenatal visits, mother’s
classes, pre-marriage counseling, home
visits
 Use posters; brochures; video if available
What is the cost of
Newborn Screening?
 Step 2. Collecting the Blood
Sample

 This refers to the taking of blood

sample from the newborn to be used
for the laboratory test
 Done in the participating health
facilities:
 Hospitals
 Health Centers
 Rural Health Units
 Lying In and Birthing Facilities
 When do you collect the sample?

 Ideally on the 48th to 72 hours

 Or at least 24 hours from birth
 Baby had an adequate milk intake

 Before any procedure such as BT, TPN or

before putting baby on NPO
 Sick and premature babies must be screened by
the 7th day of life regardless of weight and age
of gestation
Who can collect the sample?
 Sec. 7 of IRR
Collection of samples may be
performed by any trained health
worker such as:
 Physicians
 Medical technologists
 Nurses
 Midwives
 There should be a person designated
to collect the blood sample
 The Heel Prick Method
 Preferred Method for collecting NBS
Samples

 Venous blood maybe used only as an

alternative when other blood works are
done

 Umbilical Blood is not recommended

How is newborn screening
done?
 Using the heel prick
method, a few drops of
blood are taken from the
baby’s heel

 Blotted on a special
absorbent filter card

 Blood is dried for 4 hours

and sent to the Newborn
Screening Center
Newborn screening filter paper
 Step 3: SENDING THE SAMPLES

After 4
hours of
drying,
send the
samples
at once
Send the samples through a courier

Sending of samples through the official couriers:

Air 21, Aboitiz, DHL,Libcap, LBC,JRS Express
(no payment, just write “DRIED BLOOD SAMPLE” on the
transaction slip – description of packing contents)
 Newborn Screening Center- NIH

U .P. Manila

National Institutes of Health

 Newborn Screening Center
Visayas

West Visayas State University Medical Center

NEWBORN SCREENING CENTER VISAYAS
West Visayas State University Medical Center
Jaro, Iloilo City
Step 4: Laboratory Testing

What happens in the

laboratory?
Sorting of Samples Numbering of Samples Entering data into
the database

Punching Blood Spots

Analyzing results Entering results into

the database

Performing the test

 Step 5: Releasing of results

 If elevated in one of the Disorders

 Physicians or NBS Coordinators are
informed immediately after release of
result from the laboratory
 Physicians or NBS Coordinators must
inform the parents immediately either
for confirmatory or repeat sample
collection
 Step 6. Recalling of Patients

 Reasons for Recall

 Due to elevated results

 Due to rejected samples

 Every baby with a positive screen must be

recalled for confirmatory tests and
management
Steps 7. Managing/ Monitoring Patients
with Positive Screens
 Prompt and appropriate management
of positive cases is essential in saving
babies from the consequence of the
disorder
“NEWBORN SCREENING
not only save newborns but
SAVE the future of the
country in general…”
SO…LET’S WORK
HAND IN HAND IN
SAVING MORE
BABIES FROM
MENTAL
RETARDATION!
DAGHANG SALAMAT!