Office of Newborn Screening
Testing & Specimen Collection
Our office is responsible for all newborn screening in Arizona and includes both bloodspot and hearing. This section deals with best practice guidelines related to bloodspot collection using a filter paper collection device (e.g., a kit).
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) publishes a guideline for specimen collection (LA4-A5, Vol. 27 No. 20: Blood Collection on Filter Paper for Newborn Screening Programs; Approved Standard - Fifth Edition). It is accompanied by a DVD entitled, Making a Difference Through Newborn Screening: Blood Collection on Filter Paper. The Office of Newborn Screening offers the following for staff training.
- Hemoglobinopathies (new protocol began February 13, 2012)
- Are you sending bloodspot specimens on cards that have expired?
- Order current cards. Please pass this information on to whoever is in charge of your card supply.
- Order current cards
- detailed instructions on the specimen collection process
- specimen collection – procedures
- a 30-minute DVD, Making a Difference Through Newborn Screening: Blood Collection on Filter Paper, that includes:
- an introduction to the history and importance of newborn screening and the disorders screened
(NOTE: Arizona does not screen for toxoplasmosis) - instructions on proper specimen collection and handling
- a family's story of a son born with homocystinuria
- an introduction to the history and importance of newborn screening and the disorders screened