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Newborn screening refers to medical tests, the majority of which are genetic, performed to identify babies with certain disorders, which without intervention, may permanently impact newborns and their families. Early recognition and treatment of most of these disorders leads to a better outcome for the newborn. The Newborn Screening Program’s goal is to help affected babies live as long and normal of a life as possible.

The Newborn Screening Program effectively identifies babies with certain disorders and is required for all newborns born in New York State unless the parents confirm, in writing, that they have a religious objection.

Quick Facts about Newborn Screening:

  • A small blood sample is collected by pricking your newborn’s heel usually 24-36 hours after birth.
  • The blood is used to screen for 50 different disorders.
  • There is no charge to you for this service.
  • Most newborns will not have one of these disorders.
  • Newborns with one of these disorders may look healthy at birth, which is why the testing must be performed to find those with a disorder. The earlier treatment is started, the better the outcome is for your newborn.
  • Screening is designed to identify all newborns with the potential for one of these disorders. Further testing is then required to verify whether or not your newborn has the disorder.

We work closely with health care providers to ensure newborns with abnormal test results receive appropriate confirmatory diagnoses and treatment.

No test is perfect. If your newborn’s healthcare provider suspects there is a problem or your newborn does not seem right despite a normal newborn screening result, your newborn may need further testing.

CLIA# 33D2005937 | PFI# 8523

Program Updates

A new screening test for cystic fibrosis will use next generation sequencing.

New Test for Cystic Fibrosis Will Reduce Diagnostic Testing by 81%

Wadsworth Center Newborn Screening Program Sequences the Gene Responsible for Cystic Fibrosis Good news for new parents: the Wadsworth Center’s Newborn Screening Program has developed a more precise screening tool for cystic fibrosis (CF), alleviating the anxiety that accompanies a false positive test and the need for additional diagnostic testing.
Newborn Screening

Changes to C0 and C3 Reference Ranges and Discontinuation of C4DC Marker

Based on continuous quality improvement by retrospectively looking at levels of analytes detected in infants referred for screened conditions who had the disease and those who did not, the Newborn Screening Program is making the following modifications: 1. Changing the reference range values for free carnitine (C0) and propionylcarnitine (C3) used for the evaluation of carnitine uptake disorder (CUD) 2. Discontinuing the use of methylmalonylcarnitine (C4DC) as a diagnostic marker for the evaluation of propionic acidemia and methylmalonic acidemia (PA/MMA)
Dr. Michele Caggana

Newborn Screening Director Receives National Award

Dr. Michele Caggana has been honored by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) for her leadership in improving laboratory screening of newborns for genetic disorders. Dr. Caggana, director of the Newborn Screening Program at the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center, received the Harry Hannon Laboratory Improvement Award in Newborn Screening at the APHL’s recent Newborn Screening and Genetic Testing Symposium in St. Louis.
Newborn Screening Program

Newborn Screening Program Pilot Study: Hurler Syndrome

The New York State Newborn Screening Program screens all infants born in the state for 47 different diseases. In addition, the program is currently performing a pilot study with Dr. Melissa Wasserstein (pictured left), from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to screen for four additional diseases that are lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Four New York City hospitals are participating and approximately 500 infants are being tested weekly in the pilot study.  The newest disorder to be tested is called Hurler syndrome.
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