Common questions

A newborn blood spot screening heel stick test is a simple and safe blood test that screens for serious conditions that can be treated when found early. In Colorado, all babies will be tested unless parents request to opt out of testing.

Newborn babies who have these conditions look healthy but may get very sick or die within just a few days or weeks of birth. The newborn blood spot screening test helps detect these conditions early so that babies to receive the proper medical treatment before they become ill. With early treatment, most babies live a healthy life. Please note: prenatal genetic screening only tests for a few of the conditions on the newborn screen; it is not as comprehensive.

A few drops of blood are taken from your baby’s heel and soaked onto a special paper. The State Public Health Laboratory completes the screening using the dried blood spots. The results are sent to the hospital or the designated PCP.

The first newborn screen is taken at 24-48 hours of age at the birthing facility, and the second newborn screen is taken at 8-14 days of age with the primary care provider (PCP) and or birthing center. The first newborn screen should be collected 24-48 hours to ensure timely identification of disorders that may be life-threatening or have severe health impacts if not detected and treated within the first week of life. Collecting the sample within two days of life allows time for it to be tested and reported, so babies get the immediate care they need. The first and second screen tests for different disorders as shown in this diagram.

If your baby's newborn blood spot screening test results are not normal, your baby will require additional testing. Your PCP will provide guidance on how to get the testing your baby needs from a specialist. Please ensure to get any additional testing your baby needs as directed by your pcp.

• Individual patient blood spot samples are retained for 6 months and then destroyed.
• The record copy of individual patient lab reports are retained until the individual is 19 years of age, then destroyed.
• Duplicate copies are retained for 5 years, then destroyed. Duplicate copies are the demographic card sent in with the patient's blood sample, and the other duplicate copy is kept by the submitting health facility.
• Individual patient correspondence is retained until the individual is 19 years of age, then destroyed.
• Please review the retention schedule for further details. 

You can request to have the blood spot sample returned to a designated address. Please email cdphe_conbs@state.co.us for information about this process

Insurance or Medicaid pays for the newborn screening test. The fee for a Colorado newborn blood spot screen is $111.00, and note that the fee for a Wyoming screen is different. If your baby was born outside of a birthing center, please work with your PCP or midwife to inquire about any fees. 

Many of the conditions screened for have no symptoms at birth. For some of these conditions, the treatment is not effective or is less effective after symptoms appear. By the time there are symptoms, it may be too late to prevent severe complications, developmental delays, or even death. If you decide to complete the screen outside the recommended testing windows, we can complete a new screening test up to one year of age. Please consult with your PCP for further information.