Virginia is celebrating 59 years of newborn screenings. These are lifesaving services provided by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) since 1966. These screenings ensure every newborn identified at risk of certain disorders is connected to early care and treatment to give them the best chance at a healthy life.
About Newborn Screening
Newborn screenings check babies for certain serious conditions at birth. All newborns need screening as many born with a condition have no family history and show no signs at birth.
Screening often happens when newborns are still in the hospital, when they’re 24-48 hours old. If it’s suspected a newborn has a condition, follow up or further testing can be done. And, if needed, they can start care or treatment before any problems begin.
Virginia Newborn Screening Program
In Virginia, every newborn receives screenings through the Virginia Newborn Screening Program. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these screenings and include:
- Newborn Bloodspot Screening
- Tests for over 30 disorders.
- A simple heel stick takes a few drops of blood that is applied to a paper card used for testing.
- Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD)
- CCHD affects about 3 in 1,000 newborns. It can be life-threatening and requires treatment within the first year.
- Painless sensors are placed on the right hand and foot and can detect low oxygen caused by CCHD, even in newborns without symptoms.
- Early Hearing Detection
- Hearing loss affects about 3 in 1,000 newborns, making it the most common birth defect.
- Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the number one non-genetic cause of hearing loss.
If needed, VDH will help connect your infant with follow-up, diagnosis, and treatment.
More Information About Newborn Screenings
For Healthcare Providers
- Lookup Newborn Screening Results in the DCLS Portal
- Newborn Screening Education Project provides healthcare professionals and institutions nationwide with free CME opportunities to ensure that every newborn is provided with timely and accurate screening and care coordination.
- VDH Dried Blood Spot Newborn Screening for Providers
Help Us Help Others
VDH and the Center for Public Health Innovation are conducting interviews to assess newborn screening education support. Interviewers will ask participants about their beliefs and experiences related to newborn screening. Interviews will be no longer than 30 minutes and people will be compensated for their time.
We have particular interest in the following people participating:
- Healthcare providers who specialize in:
- Women’s Health
- Infant delivery
- Midwives
- Labor and Delivery
- Newborn Nursery
- Neonatal Intensive Care Units
- Community primary care
Interested providers can fill out this short interest form.
- Parents who have experienced:
- Repeated newborn screening
- Had a child diagnosed through newborn screening
- Refused newborn screening
Interested parents can fill out this short interest form for parents.
Please share these interest forms with providers and families who may wish to participate.