Metabolic screening tests your baby for several harmful and potentially fatal disorders that do not show signs or symptoms at birth.
Metabolic disorders and other inherited conditions can affect your baby's normal physical and mental development in a number of ways, such as interfering with her body's use of nutrients to maintain healthy tissues and produce energy, or causing problems with hormones or blood.
Even though these conditions are rare, early diagnosis and treatment can make the difference between lifelong impairment and healthy development.
Metabolic screening is performed by pricking your baby's heel to obtain a small amount of blood, which is put on a test card and submitted to a state laboratory. The ideal time to perform the test is when your baby is between 24 and 48 hours old and again at 14 days old. If only one test is done, it should be performed between five and 15 days of age.
Metabolic screening tests for a number of conditions, including:
Talk to you doctor if you have questions about newborn screenings and tests.
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