All newborn babies are required by law to be tested, or screened, for certain rare inherited diseases. These diseases, if untreated, can seriously interfere with a baby’s development. For screening, a few drops of blood are usually taken from the baby’s heel. Although all babies are screened in the hospital, sometimes babies have to be screened again after they have gone home. In certain situations, the screening may not detect the disorder the first time. We will tell you if your baby needs to be screened a second time for these rare but serious diseases.
