Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Resources
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 rare but treatable conditions and disorders.
Babies with one of these disorders may not look sick when they are born, however, they may have slow brain growth and trouble eating and gaining weight. They may also become very sick and sometimes die. NBS helps to find babies with these rare disorders, so treatment can start early. Early treatment can help prevent serious illness and death.
If your baby has a “screen positive” (sometimes called an out-of-range or abnormal result), it does not mean that your baby is sick or has a disorder. It means that further evaluation is needed.
There are many things that can cause a screen positive or out-of-range result:
If your baby has a screen positive or out-of-range result the CT NBS Program will report the result to your baby’s doctor and your doctor may:
New Design of NBS Blood Spot Cards
Beyond Maple Syrup Disease Lincolns Story
Rare Disease Day at NIH 2023
2024 Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Addition of MPS II to the CT Newborn Screening Panel