Idaho state law requires the department's Newborn Screening (NBS) Program to test all infants born in Idaho for a number of rare but treatable disorders using a dried blood spot specimen. To make sure newborn screening tests are performed, Idaho Administrative code designates practitioners as the responsible party for specimen collection. The definition of "practitioner" includes physicians, nurses, and midwives who deliver or care for infants in hospitals, birth centers or homes.
Practitioners are integral to newborn screening in that they are not only responsible for collection and handling of specimens for every infant in their care, but also parent education and prompt action on incomplete or abnormal results referred to them. In the event an infant is affected, the practitioner’s actions and decisions to ensure rapid evaluation and appropriate treatment can have lifelong implications for the infant and the family.
Important Announcement
NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM IS CHANGING LABORATORIES
The Newborn Screening Program (NBS) is changing our contracted laboratory to improve timeliness of screening and to be more responsive in our newborn screening activities.
What you need to know:
- New laboratory- Washington State Laboratory
- Effective date of April 1, 2021
- Collection kit cost increase ($58.20 for single kit and $116.40 for double or triple (NICU only) kits
- Services will continue as they are now through March 31, 2021.
- Screening process will remain the same: lance newborn’s heel and place on filter paper
- but there will be 5 blood spots instead of 4
- Newborn screening providers will have the option to view newborn screening results through Secure Remote Review (SRV). However, please note: Due to the expected high volume of requests to the Secure Remote Viewer, Washington state NBS requests that each facility only assigns one (1) staff member to request access for SRV for the month of April. Once all Idaho facilities have one representative established with SRV access, we can onboard additional users for interested facilities (starting in May). We estimate a 2 week turnaround time for processing requests. For more information on registering for SRV, please scroll down to “Provider Resources” to find supporting documents
Washington State Public Health Lab (Newborn Screening)
1610 NE 150th St
Shoreline, WA 98155
Phone: (206) 418-5410
Toll free: 1-866-660-9050
Fax: (206) 363-1610
Lab Receiving Hours
Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Holiday (except Thanksgiving): 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday and Thanksgiving: Closed
* Newborn screening specimens received by 10:00 a.m will be set-up for testing the same day.
The Idaho Newborn Screening Program strongly encourages providers to order newborn screening kits online through Access Idaho.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for the delivery of kit orders.
If you have any questions about your order, please contact the MCH Section at 208-334-5962 or email IdahoMCH@dhw.idaho.gov.
NOTE: The State of Idaho mandates two tests. See IDAPA 16.02.12- Newborn Screening for details. Babies can be screened up to 6 months of age. The specimen of a baby older than 6 months will only be accepted by written request from the Oregon State Public Health Lab.
Washington Newborn Screening Kit Options
Click the button below to create and print a shipping label for shipping specimens to the laboratory.
Provider Resources
Transfusions
Collect a specimen for the Newborn Screening test before giving blood to an infant Why? If there’s a transfusion before the first newborn screening specimen is collected, it can affect results for Galactosemia, Biotinidase Deficiency, and Hemoglobinopathies.
Parents That Choose Not To Have Newborn Screening
- Review refusal form with parent.
- Review newborn Screening brochures provided by the State of Idaho Newborn Screening Program.
- Have parents sign refusal form stating their intention to refuse screening.
PO Box 83720 (Mailing)
550 W. State St. (Shipping)
Boise, ID 83720-0036
United States