Public Health and Environmental Laboratories

Hospitals are responsible for completion of the newborn screening kit (completion of demographic field and collection of blood spot specimen). After a baby is born, a trained health care provider at the hospital is responsible for completing the newborn screening kit and sending it to the Newborn Screening Laboratory where blood spot specimens will be tested. It is important that health care providers complete the demographic field of each newborn screening kit correctly and collect quality blood spot specimens to ensure that screening can be performed in a timely manner and that results are accurate. Step-by-step how-to guides on completing kit demographics and quality blood spot specimen collection are available below.

Parents may choose to give birth outside of a hospital setting such as at a birthing center or within their home with the attendance of a midwife. In this case, a health care provider at the birthing center or midwife is responsible for completing the demographic field, collecting the blood spot specimen, and sending the completed kit to the Newborn Screening Laboratory. It is important that health care providers complete the demographic field of each newborn screening kit correctly and collect quality blood spot specimens to ensure that screening can be performed in a timely manner and that results are accurate. Step-by-step how-to guides on completing kit demographics and quality blood spot collection are available below.

It is the responsibility of the newborn’s pediatrician to promptly follow up with the child’s screening results and share these results with parents. As the baby’s primary care provider, a pediatrician will receive newborn screening results and is therefore responsible for interpreting these results, sharing results with the child’s parents, offering educational information about newborn screening and disorders screened for, and information about follow up services, resources, and support services available to families if needed. If a baby’s newborn screening results come back as abnormal or out-of-range, it is the responsibility of the child’s primary care provider to order diagnostic testing and to offer the appropriate clinical care and expertise.

Before a baby is born, it is critical to educate expecting parents about newborn screening. It is the responsibility of the prenatal care provider to educate parents while providing prenatal care. This helps prepare parents for what will occur and what to expect following the birth of their newborn. Prenatal care providers are responsible for offering trustworthy and reliable information about newborn screening to expecting parents during a time when the health of their baby is of utmost concern.

It is critical that health care providers correctly complete demographic information on newborn screening kits. Incomplete or incorrect information within the demographic field can affect screening results and subsequently delay receival of accurate results. For a detailed explanation on how to correctly complete demographic information on the newborn screening kit, please refer to the how-to guide below.

How-To: Demographic Information

On both initial and repeat newborn screening kits, there is an open field for transfusion status titled: “Transfusion prior to sample collection?” Please check either yes or no.

If yes, report the complete date and time of the last transfusion. In the remarks section, please include the full transfusion history of the baby. Be aware that transfusion status only refers to whole blood, packed red blood cells, or intrauterine transfusion. Plasma and platelets are not considered transfusions.

Collection of the dried blood spot specimen should be completed prior to transfusion regardless of the infant’s age. For a detailed infographic on how to complete blood transfusion status on the newborn screening kit, please refer to the how-to guide below.

How-To: Blood Transfusion Status

Blood spot quality is evaluated based on the ability to run all assays on the blood spot samples. The New Jersey Newborn Screening Laboratory attempts to screen each specimen received and performs a multistep evaluation process for each specimen. However, if accuracy of testing and results may be affected by the quality of a specimen, it is necessary for a repeat specimen to be collected. For detailed information explaining the evaluation of blood spot quality and why a specimen may be deemed unsatisfactory (unable to be tested), please refer to the guides below.

How-To: Blood Spot Quality, Guidelines for Identification of Specimens that are Unsatisfactory for Testing

The New Jersey Newborn Screening Laboratory has centralized the process for ordering initial and repeat kits. Newborn screening kit requests can be processed through our link below. This link can be used to request both initial kits and repeat kits, as well as supplies.

Newborn Screening Kit Requests

An email address is required for the form. Once the form is submitted, you will receive continuous order updates, including when the order is received and when your shipment is sent. The shipment email will contain a tracking number.

If you have any questions or would like a status update of your order, you can email NJNBS.KitOrders@doh.nj.gov

For initial kits:

Please fill out the survey completely. If you need any additional materials (yellow IEM forms and/or biohazard envelopes) please add that to the comments section.

If you are running low and would like an advanced order of initial kits, specify the amount you would like to receive under “# of Advanced Kits.” We will be able to send a portion of your order before the check is received. Once the check is received, we will process the remaining order.

The survey should be filled out prior to the check being received by the laboratory. This will allow us to know a check is being sent to the lab, and we can follow up with you in a timely manner if it isn’t received.

The current cost for initial kits is: $150

For repeat kits:

Please fill out the survey completely. If you need any additional materials (yellow IEM forms and/or biohazard envelopes) please add that to the comments section. Repeat kits are no cost and will be shipped once the order is processed.

The New Jersey Newborn Screening Laboratory offers a variety of training, including:

• Blood spot collection and quality
• Specimen handling and timing
• Demographic information
• Follow up procedures
• Understanding results and reports
• Hospital coordinator training
• Responsible physician training

Trainings are completed via webinar. New Jersey hospitals also have the option of an in-person training to review specific specimens submitted by their hospital.

If you would like to request training, please email NJNBS.Outreach@doh.nj.gov and someone will be in touch within 2-3 business days.

To sign up for our eReports system, please refer to the link below which provides detailed instructions.

Steps to Gaining Access to eReports

Providers who would like to create an account to view newborn screening test results electronically should follow this link: newbornscreening.nj.gov

For technical assistance, send an email to NJNBS.eReports@doh.nj.gov