What is newborn screening? 

Newborn screenings are done at the hospital before the baby is discharged. They include blood and hearing tests that check for certain treatable issues that may occur during infancy. A baby can be born with a health condition without showing any signs at first.  

Discovering a health condition during a newborn screening often means early treatment making it possible to avoid more serious health problems later in life. All babies in the United States get newborn screenings, but each state’s tests are a little different. Ask your baby’s provider which tests your baby will have. 

Newborn screening by state 

Newborn screenings are done at the hospital before the baby is discharged. They include blood and hearing tests that check for certain treatable issues that may occur during infancy. A baby can be born with a health condition without showing any signs at first.  

Discovering a health condition during a newborn screening often means early treatment making it possible to avoid more serious health problems later in life. All babies in the United States get newborn screenings, but each state’s tests are a little different. Ask your baby’s provider which tests your baby will have. 

All states require newborn screening for every infant but the number of conditions a state requires that a hospital screen babies for is different in each state. 

• Each state’s public health department decides both the number and types of conditions a state screens for as part of their newborn screening program. 
• Newborn screening programs vary between states due to several factors, including: 

• • The laws of the state. 
  • The financial costs of screening. 
  • The frequency of the disorder in the state. 
  • The availability of treatments for each condition. 
  • The funding sources for the newborn screening program. 

For information about your state, click here and then click on your state.