Go to homepage - National Screening Unit.

Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme

Newborn metabolic screening (often known as the Guthrie test or heel prick test) is available to all New Zealand babies and is done at 48 hours of birth or as soon as possible thereafter. The blood is tested for rare but life-threatening disorders.

Did you know that...

  • Newborn metabolic screening is available to all New Zealand babies and is done at 48 hours after birth.
  • While most infants look perfectly healthy, there are some disorders that aren't visible.
  • Early treatment of conditions can prevent potentially serious complications which can cause permanent damage to the baby or even death.
  • To screen for these disorders, a sample of blood is collected from the baby's heel.

 

Awareness Heel prick Normal Further testing

Jaydin's story

Jaydin, born in 1998, has Phenylketonuria (PKU).  His grandmother Jo tells his story.

Image of Charlie's story Story.

Charlie's story

Charlie was born in June 2006. Like nearly all babies born in NZ, Charlie had a heel prick a couple of days after birth. The heel prick results indicated that Charlie could have Cystic Fibrosis.

Public consultation on newborn metabolic screening

As part of improvements to the programme, the NSU publicly consulted on future policies for the programme in 2007. The results are now being analysed. Click to view the questionnaire.