Key points about the heel prick test
- the heel prick test is recommended for all pēpi (babies) born in Aotearoa New Zealand
- the test involves collecting a sample of blood from your baby's heel 48 hours after their birth
- the test is part of the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme which finds rare but life-threatening metabolic disorders along with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID)
- early treatment of conditions can prevent potentially serious complications which can cause permanent damage or even death
Why your newborn baby needs a heel prick test
The Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme finds rare but life-threatening metabolic disorders with a blood test (heel prick test) at 48 hours after your baby's birth. Since 1969, almost all pēpi in New Zealand have had this screening. Early diagnosis means treatment can start quickly, before a baby becomes sick. Metabolic disorders are hard to find without screening.
Find out more about the heel prick test on the Health New Zealand website. It has detailed information about why and how the test is done.
Check out the National Metabolic Screening Programme's booklet 'Your newborn baby's blood test'. You can download the resource from the HealthED website.
Conditions that are screened for
Newborn screening tests for a range of rare disorders:
- congenital hypothyroidism
- cystic fibrosis
- amino acid disorders
- fatty acid oxidation disorders
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- galactosaemia
- biotinidase deficiency
- severe combined immune deficiency
- spinal muscular atrophy
Sometimes new disorders are added to the screening programme, and others are removed. If your baby has one of these disorders, you will receive information about the disorder and how to treat it from a paediatrician.
Find out which disorders newborn screening tests for.
Being diagnosed with a metabolic disorder
If your baby is diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, coping is an ongoing process. Everybody copes in a different way.
Coping When Your Child Has A Diagnosis Of A Chronic Illness Or Disability
Receiving A Diagnosis For Your Child With Special Needs
More information
A video for parents with information about the heel prick test.
Source: Ministry of Health
The Rare Disorders New Zealand website has information and resources for people living with a rare disorder and their whānau.
Acknowledgements
Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand acknowledge the cooperation of the National Screening Unit in making this information available for families.
