Methods for taking blood

Heel prick vs blood taken from the vein
Step by step, doing the test
Interventions for pain

The newborn screening test entails taking a few drops of the baby's blood, either by pricking the baby's heel or taking blood from their vein. The blood is soaked onto a pre-printed, specially designed absorbent paper card (similar to blotting paper) for testing. The paper card has 3 or 4 marked circles about 1 cm in diameter that the caregiver must fill in with the blood for the testing required.

The newborn screening test is usually taken by the midwife in the hospital before going home, or by your midwife visiting you at home if on the early discharge program or after a home birth.

The card has an area to record written details that is filled in by the caregiver. It usually includes details such as:

	The mother's full name.
	The baby's surname, date of birth, sex, birth weight and gestation.
	If the baby is breastfeeding or formula feeding and if the formula is milk or soy-based. Babies on soy milk formula need to have added tests done by the laboratory.
	If the baby has not fed because they have had their nutrition via the vein because they were very sick or premature. If the laboratory knows this then different tests can be performed on the sample to detect some of the disorders that rely on the baby having milk feeds.
	The name of the hospital or if the birth was at home.
	The name of the health professional the laboratory can contact if the test needs to be repeated or a disorder is detected.
	If either parents have a family history of a metabolic disorder - these tests are usually given priority for processing.
	If the mother or baby are on any medications.
	If the baby has had a blood transfusion (this can affect the results).

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