What is a newborns heel blood re-screening?
Neonatal heel blood retest involves collecting blood from the baby's heel for examination to determine the child's health status and diagnose whether the newborn suffers from any congenital diseases. If the first test result is not satisfactory, a retest will be arranged. Parents do not need to worry too much, as the heel blood retest does not necessarily mean that the child has some diseases. Here is what you should know about neonatal heel blood retest:
1. On the second day after birth, a heel blood test will be performed on the newborn to check for certain diseases. Some newborns may have a positive result on the first test, indicating possible phenylketonuria (PKU) or hypothyroidism. In such cases, regular follow-up and additional heel blood retests are required.
2. If the neonatal heel blood test result is negative, it indicates that there is no need for further blood collection or a second retest.
3. If it is uncertain whether the newborn has a specific disease or if the blood was contaminated during the first test, an additional test will be necessary.
4. Early detection and treatment after birth can ensure that the baby's development reaches normal levels. PKU is an amino acid metabolism disorder, and its symptoms are initially non-specific. If a child's intellectual disability is detected around 1 year old, it means that the best treatment period has been missed.
