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Newborn blood spot screening programme: supporting publications

Guidance and resources for health professionals and commissioners working in the NHS newborn blood spot (NBS) screening programme.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Published:
1 July 2012
Last updated:
14 April 2023
Show all updates

  1. Added link to the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) blog under SCID screening evaluation.

  2. Updated information relating to SCID screening evaluation.

  3. Added updated letter templates to the SCID screening evaluation section.

  4. Updated the 'SCID evaluation' section with new resources.

  5. Added a new section on SCID.

  6. Addition to collection of 'Newborn blood spot screening: reporting positive results from laboratories'

  7. Removal of public information leaflets from collection with addition of links signposting to Newborn screening: information leaflets collection.

  8. Added newborn blood spot screening care pathway.

  9. Added 'Congenital hypothyroidism: initial clinical referral guidelines'.

  10. Added 'sickle cell disease: positive result referral template letter' to document collection.

  11. Added failsafe publications.

  12. Added PKU not suspected, other disorder follow up for PKU team letter template.

  13. First published.

The NHS newborn blood spot (NBS) screening programme helps identify several rare but serious diseases with a small blood sample, also called a heel prick test.

See Newborn screening: information leaflets for digital information leaflets for health professionals to use in conversations with parents to explain NBS tests, possible results and follow-up tests.

Programme pathway

Screening guidance

Failsafe

Congenital hypothyroidism (CHT)

Health professionals should refer to CHT suspected: description in brief and CHT further information for families in conversations with parents following positive screening test results.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

Health professionals should refer to Cystic fibrosis suspected: description in brief and Cystic fibrosis carrier: description in brief as appropriate in conversations with parents following positive screening results.

Inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs)

Health professionals can refer to the following information resources as appropriate in conversations with parents following positive screening results for IMDs:

Sickle cell disease

SCID screening evaluation

Information for the public and professionals to support the evaluation of screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in England.

Screening for SCID is being offered in some parts of England as part of an evaluation. It is not yet available for all newborn babies in England. Further information is available on the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) blog.

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