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We are a part of the Washington State Department of Health. We test babies born in Washington State for treatable disorders that have been determined by the State Board of Health to meet their criteria for inclusion in the screening panel.  Babies with these conditions usually appear normal at birth.  Without screening, babies with these disorders are not likely to be detected before disability or death occurs.  Our testing and follow-up services allow early diagnosis and treatment.

NEW and UPDATED Resources on the Web!

• Fourth Quarter 2011 Program Statistics

  Statistics

   

Privacy Practices

Washington takes privacy and confidentiality concerns seriously. In accordance with state law, we protect the privacy of newborns and their families and assure that all specimens and information forms submitted for screening are protected from inappropriate use or access. Please visit our privacy page for more information.

Join our E-mail List!

Our program is pleased to announce a new resource available to health care providers. We have set up a LISTSERV mailing list to circulate pertinent information about Washington’s dried blood spot newborn screening program. The list will be used to send out electronic quarterly reports, periodic announcements, and occasional questionnaires that will give you the opportunity to provide valuable feedback to our staff. It is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance communication, increase program efficiency, and improve the quality of our services. The list is not set up as a discussion forum, but instead as an announcement service. As always, you can e-mail us directly with questions or comments at NBS.Prog@doh.wa.gov or call us at (206) 418-5410.

To join our mailing list, please visit the Newborn Screening LISTSERV subscription webpage.

What Do We Do?

We track birth records to assure that babies are screened, and we do the laboratory testing.  We advise health care providers about the tests, results, further testing needed and immediate steps to prevent harm.  We follow affected children over time to make sure they receive care to improve their lives. 

And, we provide information and training to parents and health care partners.  In 2011, we performed approximately 9.1 million tests on more than 167,082 specimens for about 84,652 newborns.  A total of 172 infants with one of the conditions on the screening list were identified and put on treatment early in life.  This work is supported entirely by a one-time fee ($60.90) for each baby screened.  We collect an additional $8.40 that helps to support the special clinics that are needed to treat affected children.

Finally, we provide the specialized metabolic treatment products (i.e., PKU formula) that are central to preventing profound damage due to the condition.  We do this to assure reliable and consistent access to these unique, essential products.  Working in close collaboration with the clinical experts at the University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Oregon Health Sciences University, the Office of Newborn Screening purchases, stores and distributes the products to those who need them.  The costs of this service are recovered through billing the recipient’s insurance, Medicaid, or in a few cases, the recipient.