Newborn screening process

Dried blood spots are prepared from native blood on standardized filter paper (Whatman 903, Whatman). The paper has to be fully soaked with blood and dried at room temperature. Blood has to be applied from one side only, to ensure even distribution throughout the filter paper. Do not use any plastic wrapping before the paper is completely dry. For further details, consult the guidelines from your closest newborn screening facility or metabolic laboratory processing dried blood specimens. 

In addition to blood, certain types of specimens are submitted to the Pediatric laboratory which would not be commonly seen elsewhere. An example of this is sweat for analysis of chloride. The process of obtaining the sweat by iontophoresis usually falls to the personnel of the Laboratory of Neonatology (17). Stool for analysis of lipids and trypsin is more commonly submitted to the Laboratory of Neonatology than to the laboratory which services the adult population. The reason for this is that one is screening for certain intestinal diseases characteristic of infants and newborns which are rare in adults. Such conditions would be celiac disease, cystic fibrosis and others. 

Kemper AR, et al. Decision-mtiking process for conditions nominated to the recommended uniform screening panel statement of the US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary s Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. Genet Med. 2014 16(2) 183-7. 

Donor placenta is obtained after elective cesarean, and with informed maternal consent. Maternal donors are screened at deUvery usually by physical exam, reviewing medical history and standard questionnaire to assess the possibility of transmittable diseases. Suitability for transplant is determined by the absence of any infectious, malignant, neurological and autoimmune diseases and other exposures or social habits deemed improper to transplantation. Donors are screened for transmittable diseases such as HIV, HCV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. These screening takes place predonation and bmonths after donation. No harm to either the newborn or maternal donor is encountered during the procurement process. - ... 

Enzyme-mediated (biological) oxidation of carboxylic acids is being studied at an increasing pace and screening of newborn infants for normal and abnormal metabolites of such processes is becoming common. 

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