Newborn Screening Parent Resources
Every baby born in Texas gets two newborn screening blood tests that check for a number of rare disorders.
More Than Drops On a Card - Watch a 5-minute video featuring two Texas families sharing the importance of newborn screening tests and timely follow-up care.
10 Things Parents Want to Know About Newborn Screening (texas.gov)
Newborn Screening Test Results
Parents can get all the newborn screening test results from the baby’s doctor. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will send the results to the doctor in one to two weeks.
If one or more test results is out of the expected range, newborn screening clinical care coordination staff will follow up with the baby’s doctor to make sure that the appropriate next steps are taken. The doctor or a staff member will contact parents.
Abnormal test results from the laboratory may need additional tests to either clear or diagnose the baby. Staff from DSHS will follow up to make sure that the baby receives confirmatory testing and treatment if needed. Early treatment can help prevent serious complications such as growth problems, developmental delays, deafness or blindness, intellectual disability, seizures or even early death. Learn more about the program and view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at Texas Newborn Screening FAQs.
Financial Help for Newborn Screening Conditions
The Newborn Screening (NBS) Benefits program has limited financial help available for infants, children, and adults who have an abnormal newborn screen or are diagnosed with a NBS disorder. People with the highest need will receive priority. NBS Benefits is a payer of last resort. This means that all applicants first must apply for Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) before applying for NBS Benefits.
If eligible, limited help will provide:
- Dietary Supplements (metabolic or low-protein foods)
- Medications
- Vitamins
- Confirmatory testing, evaluation, and follow-up care
- Reimbursement to specialists for telephone consultations
Email benefits@dshs.texas.gov or call 1-800-252-8023 ext. 2983 for more information.
Additional Newborn Screening Resources
Texas
- Newborn Screening Testing: For Your Babies Health – Why newborn screening is important
- Screened Disorders – Fact sheets on newborn screening conditions
- DSHS Newborn Screening Clinical Care Coordination
- Newborn Screening Consultants- List of medical specialists for newborn screening conditions
- DSHS Newborn Screening Program
National
- A Parent's Guide to Newborn Screening- 5 minute video on Newborn Screening
- Baby’s First Test – Facts, advice and support for parents and professionals
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Newborn Screening Can Help Prevent Problems
- Save Babies Through Screening Foundation - A non-profit organization that advocates for comprehensive newborn screening.
- Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Newborn Screening and Genetics
- Genetics Home Reference - Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions