Newborn bloodspot screening

Newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) identifies babies at risk of having rare, but serious medical conditions. These conditions can affect normal development if not treated early. The screening test is quick and safe and available for all newborns. It takes place 36-72 hours after birth.

NBS is a blood test. It looks for a range of different biological markers in the blood. These markers can mean a medical condition may be present.

If a baby has one of these conditions, they will have an abnormal level of the marker in their blood. If not identified and treated early, these conditions can affect typical development.