How are normal, abnormal and critical screening results reported to you and followed-up?
If you receive a newborn screening report on a newborn who is not your patient, please contact Division of Consolidated Laboratory Service (DCLS) to let them know of this.
(804) 648-4480 ext . 172
Normal screening results
- A formal newborn screening report generated by DCLS will be mailed to the doctor and submitter listed on the newborn screening card.
“Abnormal” screening results (*this does not include results that indicate a carrier for a hemoglobinoapthy)
- A formal newborn screening report generated by DCLS with the abnormal screen results will be mailed to the doctor and submitter listed on the newborn screening card.
- A newborn screening card will accompany the formal report generated by DCLS in the mail. The recommendation for most abnormal screening results is to repeat the newborn screening within two days of receiving the formal report.
“Critical” screening results
- The doctor listed on the newborn screening card will be notified by the newborn screening follow-up team by phone the day results are finalized. DCLS will also generate a formal newborn screening report with the critical screen results and send to doctor listed as certified mail. The submitter listed will be notified by mail only.
- A critical report & follow-up form will be faxed to doctor listed the day results are finalized. CRITICAL RESULTS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UPON IMMEDIATELY.
- In addition to reporting the critical result to the primary care provider by phone, the newborn screening follow-up nurse will call and fax the report to the respective newborn screening medical consultant in your area to initiate a consultation between them and the primary care provider. The consultant will contact the primary care provider and provide the medical advice needed to properly follow-up on the critical result. It is important that the primary care provider provide the correct phone number to the newborn screening nurse for the specialist to call you back for consultation.
- The standard recommendation is to consult with the appropriate consultant as soon as possible to confirm or rule-out disease. These recommendations are also included on the critical report form that was faxed to the doctor and in the formal newborn screening report sent by DCLS.
- Once a diagnosis is finalized, the follow-up form should be faxed back to Virginia Newborn Screening Program (fax 804-864-7807) to close infant’s folder by appropriate diagnosis.
Follow-up of abnormal and critical results
All abnormal and critical newborn screening results are followed until a diagnosis is received by the follow-up team. Follow-up may include a phone call or letter asking for updates. A final diagnosis must be sent to the follow-up team by 6 months of age. Newborn screening nurses will follow-up at 1 month of age, 3 months of age and 5 months of age. If no information is received by 6 months of age, the infant’s record is closed. DCLS cannot screen infants over 6 months of age.