Newborn blood spot screening standards
Document Type
Standards
Summary
The national pregnancy and newborn screening programme has a number of individual screening elements. We are developing standards for newborn blood spot screening.
All newborn babies are offered a blood spot screening test between 96-120 hours (4-5 days). The test is done by taking a blood sample from the baby’s heel. The sample is checked to find out whether the baby is unaffected, a health carrier or has the screened for condition.
These standards relate to newborn blood spot screening for:
- cystic fibrosis
- sickle cell disease
- congenital hypothyroidism
- six inherited metabolic disorders. These are phenylketonuria, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, maple syrup urine disease, isovaleric acidaemia, glutaric aciduria type 1 and homocystinuria.
Consultation survey
Take part in our consultation on Smart Survey
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These standards are a review of the 2019 Newborn Blood Spot Screening standards.
The consultation on the draft standards closes on 12 August 2025.
What we are consulting on
There are 5 standards within the draft which cover:
- information provision and informed decision making
- offer of the newborn blood spot screening
- newborn blood spot screening and results
- laboratory processes and results reporting
- specialist support and care planning following a positive result
Further information on the background to the standards development can be found within the draft standards consultation document.
Consultation feedback
A summary of the responses to the consultation will be made available on request. You can request them from the project team at his.standardsandindicators@nhs.scot
The updated pregnancy screening standards for chromosomal and health conditions were published in 2024. The remaining pregnancy and newborn screening standards will be reviewed at a later date and remain current. These are
- Haemoglobinopathies in pregnancy
- Infectious diseases in pregnancy
- Newborn hearing screening