Does anyone know what "routine" or "standard" blood tests are ran on babies at birth?

Answer 1

The first thing doctors will do is collect blood from the umbellical cord to see what the babys blood type is...When your baby is 48 hours old, his heel will be pricked and a small amount of blood taken to test for phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism, and other disorders. All 50 states require newborn screening tests (sometimes referred to as "the metabolic screen"). But the number and type of genetic and metabolic disorders tested for vary widely from state to state, from as few as four conditions to more than 40.

If you live in a state that does only limited testing you can pay for additional testing, but you may need to make arrangements ahead of time. If you deliver at a birth center or at home, you'll need to bring your baby to the doctor for these tests before he's a week old. And if you give birth in a hospital but are discharged early — within 24 hours after delivery — your baby will need repeat testing one to two weeks later because the screening test done for PKU in the first day of life isn't always accurate.

Many hospitals routinely perform newborn hearing tests before your baby is discharged. In some states it's required by law. (Both the March of Dimes and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend testing for all babies.)

If your HIV status is unknown, your baby's cord blood may be tested for the virus. (In some states, this is required.)

Will my baby get a hepatitis B shot?
Your baby will probably get his first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine before being discharged from the hospital. If you're a hepatitis B carrier or your status is unknown, your baby should definitely be vaccinated within 12 hours of birth. (If you're sure that you, other family members, and anyone who will be caring for your baby are all negative for hepatitis B, the first dose can be delayed and given sometime before he's 2 months old.)

Babies of mothers who are known hepatitis B carriers will also receive an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth. If your hepatitis B status is unknown, your blood will be drawn for testing, and if you're found to be positive, your baby should receive a dose of HBIG as soon as possible.

Answer 2

If you leave the hospital before 48 hours are up, do not consent to the PKU test prior to checking out of the hospital. Come back and do it after 48 hours. The results are not accurate if it's done earlier, so there is no reason to put your baby through that twice.

Answer 3

in the event that they p.c. to disclaim scientific counsel, high quality. i think of its particularly unhappy besides the fact that, that they might fairly have their newborn die than acquire existence saving blood given out of love from yet another human. effective, medical doctors could make errors, the physique is a complicated paintings, and that they are only human such as you and me. i think of your stats there are particularly over the ideal besides the fact that, under no circumstances precise and are in particular from 0.33 international international places with sub-ordinary scientific care. *how lots of the persons in those stats die by way of a reaction with a prescription given? An allergic reaction that no person had any thank you to foretell might take place? Or a mix of medicine, criminal or otherwise, they did no longer demonstrate to the wellbeing care provider? From issues in the time of surgical procedures? The spectrum is a lot to huge to base an opinion on. Its no longer as though those medical doctors are strolling around saying "nicely, I do only no longer supply a crap in the present day, so i will wing it and not positioned any honestly concept at the back of my diagnosis" scientific technology isn't an actual technology. no longer something is a one hundred% garauntee. i might lots fairly place my existence, and the lives of my infants in the palms of people who've a miles extra useful awareness than I ever would desire to then some mysterious god who has yet to tutor his face. If it weren't for the blood given out of compassion and love by employing strangers, my oldest son would not be here in the present day.