Parent Overview

All babies born in New Jersey are required by law to receive a newborn blood screen 24-48 hours after their birth. Newborn screening is a simple and safe blood test that provides important information about your baby’s health.

The blood sample is used to screen for many rare conditions, which if left untreated, may result in serious health problems. A newborn baby can look healthy, but have a serious disease that cannot be seen right after birth. Newborn Screening helps to detect these unseen illnesses. Early diagnosis and treatment may help prevent problems and complications related to these conditions.

Over 4 million babies are tested in the United States every year.