DO… call it the newborn screening, metabolic panel, heel-stick or dried blood spot test
DO… accurately complete ALL the information requested on the card
DO… remember specimen card is a legal document and to record the name of the person collecting the specimen
DO… collect the 1st specimen between 24-48 hours after delivery
DO… collect the 2nd specimen between 10-14 days of age
DO… practice aseptic collection techniques by:
wearing gloves and using sterile lancets
avoiding contamination with urine, feces, or other interfering substances
fill each circle with a SINGLE application of blood allowing blood to soak to the back of the filter paper
DO… double check the blood specimen is satisfactory for testing before sending out to the lab
DO… air dry card for 2-4 hours before closing the flap
DO… send card to the State Newborn Screening lab as soon as it is dry and no later than 24 hours after collection
DO… call us for high priority specimens that require STAT testing (i.e. clinical symptoms or family history of newborn screening disorder)
Don'ts
DON'T… call it the "PKU test"
DON'T… wait to mail more than one day of specimens ("batching" cards can delay testing & ultimately diagnosis & treatment of babies with life-threatening disorders)
DON'T… collect blood <24 hours after delivery (unless HA/TPN, antibiotics, steroids, transfusion will be administered, or the baby will be transferred to another hospital)
DON'T… use EDTA tubes to collect blood (purple top)
DON'T… use EDTA tubes to collect blood (purple top)
DON'T… expose the card to heat, sunlight or humidity, or place in plastic bags
DON'T… contaminate or scratch the filter paper
DON'T… collect blood on both sides of the filter paper
DON'T… layer successive drops of blood on the same circle
DON'T… check Multiple Births box if baby is a single birth