Frequently Asked Questions

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The Connecticut Newborn Screening Program (CT NBS) is a public health program that screens all babies born in the state for many serious but treatable metabolic and genetic disorders.
While most babies are born healthy, some babies are born with serious but treatable medical conditions. Your baby will receive three different screening tests while in the hospital:
Every baby born in Connecticut receives a newborn screening (NBS) bloodspot test. This is done by taking a few drops of blood from the baby’s heel one to two days after birth. The blood is sent to the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory where testing can detect over 60 treatable medical conditions.
Babies with one of these disorders may not look sick when they are born. NBS helps to find babies with these disorders, so treatment can start early. Early treatment can help prevent serious illness and death.
If the bloodspot test shows that a baby has an out of range screening result, CT NBS Program staff will call the baby’s primary care provider to report the results and will either request a second bloodspot test or that the baby follow up with a specialist. The specialist will determine whether the baby has a medical condition and start treatment if needed.
This website is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $150,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
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Contact us with your questions about Newborn Screening. Contact Us
Newborn Screening Online Training for Health Care Providers
This is a free on-line course developed with hospital providers in mind. This course will be updated regularly to reflect changes in newborn screening. It is suggested that hospitals use make this course part of their new employee orientation and as a yearly validation for staff with any type of involvement in the NBS process. Anyone (PCPs, Midwives, Obstetricians, Parents) can access and take this course by setting up a free CT Train account.
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