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Procedures and practices

Samples must be taken at or as soon as possible after baby is 48 hours of age provided consent has been obtained from parents or guardians.

It is also critical to minimise the time taken to get samples from the place of sampling to the laboratory for testing.  Delays can lead to severe illness or even death of an infant or the inability to identify a condition.

Samples must therefore be dried and posted on the day of sampling.

Best practice for health practitioners DVD   -     WMV   23193Kb

This 17-minute DVD provides best practice advice for practitioners providing services within the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme(NMSP).

Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme Best Practice Key Messages   -     PDF   458Kb

These key messages accompany the DVD and contain best practice reminders and the metabolic disorders currently screened for by the NMSP.

Blood Sample Protocol (Heel Prick) for Level 2 Special Care Baby Units (SCBU)   -     PDF   116Kb

This protocol describes screening for specific metabolic disorders in newborns that are admitted to a Special Care Baby Unit.

Blood Sample Protocol (Heel Prick) for Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)   -     PDF   116Kb

This protocol describes screening for specific metabolic disorders in newborns that are admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

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