States Rhode Island

Program Overview:

Newborn screening is a state health program that seeks to detect certain conditions at birth in order to make sure your child has a healthy, happy start to life. Newborn screening is the practice of testing newborn babies for certain harmful or potentially fatal disorders. Rhode Island law, requires that all birthing hospitals in Rhode Island screen every baby for 33 blood conditions, as well as hearing loss and critical congenital heart disease. All babies are tested, because babies with these disorders often appear healthy at birth. Sometimes more tests are needed to confirm preliminary or early test results. Serious problems, including intellectual disability and death, can be prevented if the disorders are discovered and treatment can be started early.

Newborn Bloodspot (Heel Stick Testing):

Blood tests on newborns in the hospital check for metabolic (how the body digests food), endocrine (how the body controls many functions), and hemoglobin (blood) conditions.

The infant’s heel is pricked so that a few drops of blood can be caught on a special card that goes to a lab to be tested. The blood should be drawn after the baby is 24 hours old, but before the baby is 48 hours old. Sometimes a test needs to be repeated if the first result was abnormal. This does not necessarily mean that a baby has a condition. If a baby's test needs to be repeated, a doctor or nurse will call and let the parent know. The repeat test should be done as soon as possible. It is best to have the repeat test done at the hospital where the baby was born, but a parent can go to the lab at any maternity hospital in Rhode Island.

Results from these tests are reported to the baby's doctor. Tests are available for many conditions beyond those included in Rhode Island's Newborn Screening Program. These additional tests are available for a fee through other labs. If a parent would like to have their baby receive additional testing, they should talk to the baby’s doctor.

Congenital Heart Disease (Pulse Oximetry) Screening:

Before you leave the hospital your baby may have a painless test called "pulse oximetry" (also known as "pulse ox") to measure your baby's oxygen level to screen for critical congenital heart disease. Infants with heart problems may have low blood oxygen levels, and therefore, the pulse ox test can help identify babies that have Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD). This test is done using a machine called a pulse oximeter, using a painless sensor placed on either the baby’s right hand or either foot. The pulse ox test only takes a couple of minutes and is performed after the baby is 24 hours old. If the baby does not pass the pulse ox screening, more tests will be done.

Newborn Hearing Screening:

Hearing loss is one of the most common congenital birth defects affecting 1-3 per 1000 babies born each year in the United States. . Delayed detection of hearing loss can lead to communication, social, psychological, behavioral, and educational challenges. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants be screened by 1 month of age, diagnosed by 3 months of age, and receive early intervention services no later than 6 months of age. Your baby’s hearing is tested using Otoacoustic Emissions testing. A small tip is placed in the ear and the equipment checks how part of the inner ear responds to sound.

How is Newborn Screening Paid for in ­­Rhode Island?

The newborn screening fee is $187.22 for bloodspot screening and $47.26 for hearing screening per newborn. The fee is paid by the hospital or health care facility to the Health Department where the birth occurred in the absence of a third party payer such as a private health insurer. There is no charge for repeat screening.