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Newborn Screening Home

Newborn Screening is a special blood test done on each Utah baby. It is specifically designed to reduce the occurrence of diseases or conditions that alter health and quality of life (morbidity) and increase the risk of death (mortality) due to certain metabolic, endocrine, and hematological disorders by identifying the disorder prior to the onset of symptoms.

This allows treatment to begin before clinical symptoms of morbidity (i.e. permanent brain damage, growth retardation, sepsis, or severe anemia) or death can occur in the newborn.

Utah collects two newborn screening specimens (formerly called the PKU test) which test for 37 disorders. The first screen is usually done between 48 hours and 5 days of life, or right before discharge from the hospital. The second screen is done between 7 and 28 days of age, usually at the two week well-child check with the baby's pediatrician. Identifying and treating infants with these disorders early can help ensure a long, healthy life, so it is important to get these tests done correctly and on time.

URGENT NOTICE

Expired Cards

Please check your Newborn Screening Cards for  an expiration date

 FORM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 2012

Do not use any outdated cards
Specimens received on outdated cards will be rejected as unsatisfactory and will need to be re-drawn.

Please discard any unused expired cards

New Miscellaneous Cards may be ordered:

  1. Onlinehttp://health.utah.gov/newbornscreening or
  2. Fax: 801-969-3238, Unified State Laboratories

Contact: Utah Department of Health State Laboratory
at 801-965-2400 with questions regarding ordering new cards.
Hours: Monday-Friday   8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Expired Card Notice (pdf)

 

2-Part Kit Order Form (for orders of <5)

In order to serve our Utah population better the Newborn Screening Program is happy to announce 2-part kit cards may now be ordered individually and privately.

Please click below to download the order form.

2-Part Kit Order Form

 

Be sure to include the “UT” on the kit number

Hurricane Katrina not only wrecked havoc with Louisiana, but uncovered a problem with states testing newborn screening specimens from another state.  Louisiana’s specimens were sent to Iowa for testing.  Identifying which specimen came from which state easily became an issue. 

From this experience came a recommendation to all states to add the state’s two-digit abbreviation to the individual state’s screening card number.  The state abbreviation would allow for easier and quicker identification.

Utah has modified its two-part kit (first and second forms) and the miscellaneous forms to begin with “UT.”  This is a permanent addition to the kit number and needs to be included in or on all communication.

Picture of NSP Card with kit number highlighted

 

Address for Newborn Screening Specimens
mailbox The Unified State Laboratories:  Public Health has changed from receiving specimens through the US Postal System to the Department of Health State Mail system. 

To mail a speciment via US Postal Service using a STANDARD BUSINESS OR CATALOG ENVELOPE:

The envelope should have the following address:

 

Newborn Screening Laboratory
Unified State Laboratories:  Public Health
PO Box 144300
Salt Lake City UT  84114-4300

If you need correctly addressed envelopes for second, miscellaneous or diet monitoring forms, please contact Chris Peper or Nancy Bishop at 801-965-2400.

For specimens delivered via courier or hand delivered:

Newborn Screening Laboratory
Unified State Laboratories: Public Health
4431 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City, UT  84129-8600

 

HIPPA Privacy Act