NBS Providers

The delivery facility, birthing center, or other healthcare facility in which the infant is born is responsible for ensuring parents are given a copy of "Georgia Newborn Screening Program: What Every Parent Should Know."  DPH offers free brochures to the submitting facility. Email [email protected] to order NBS brochures. 

DPH's brochure provides an overview of the newborn screening tests performed at birth. A copy of the brochure can be downloaded below.

• What Every Parent Should Know brochure   (English)
   
• What Every Parent Should Know brochure   (Spanish)

A list of frequently used NBS reporting and referral forms are listed below.  Please contact [email protected] if you need additional assistance.

• Delayed Screening Report Form
  DPH's form should be used to report delayed screening results for hearing and CCHD screenings that were not reported on the dried blood spot card at birth.
  
  Newborn Hearing Screening Results and Recommendations Form
• DPH's form can be used by delivery facilities and other providers to provide hearing results and recommendations to a child's parent or guardian.
   
• Declaration of Religious Objection to Newborn Screening form
  DPH's form can be used by delivery hospitals or facilities that do not have their own internal form to capture NBS refusals due to a religious objection.
   
• Children 1st Screening and Referral Form
  DPH's form should be completed to report children from birth to five years of age with specific conditions and risks identified at birth to DPH's Children 1st Program

Authorized providers can access newborn screening results through eReports, SendSS, or through an NBS authorization request form completed by the individual or individual's parent or guardian.

• eReports Web Portal
  Licensed physicians, physician assistants, and registered professional nurses can request access to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's web portal to access newborn screening results 24/7. 
   
  • DPH Newborn Screening eReports Web Portal Access Request Form
    Licensed physicians, physician assistants, and registered professional nurses can request access to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's web portal to access newborn screening results 24/7.  The completed access request form can be emailed to [email protected]. Licenses will be verified before access is approved.
    • The portal contains results for specimens received on or after July 11, 2011.​​​
    • If you have eReport access questions, please contact the Georgia Public Health Laboratory at (404) 327-7950 or email [email protected].
      
      **If you need assistance resetting your eReports account log in credentials, please email [email protected].  

• SendSS Newborn Screening Results
  Authorized providers can access unofficial copies of archived reports in SendSS for birth dates from the year 2000 through 2007. These archived reports may be needed for student athletes attending college and in need of documentation of their sickle cell status.

  To register, visit SendSS and fill out the online registration form.  Select SendSS Newborn and Newborn Screening Results as the required access.
  
  **If you need assistance resetting your SendSS account log in credentials, please email [email protected].  
   

• Patient Authorization Release Form
  Providers seeking NBS results, including sickle cell results, please email a completed Authorization for Release of Newborn Screening Report form to [email protected] or fax a request to (404) 657-2773.
  • Authorization for Release of Newborn Screening Report (2023)
    DPH's form should be completed by the child's parent or legal guardian and submitted with proof of identify (e.g., driver's license, passport) to the Georgia Newborn Screening Program.

NBS submitting providers can request newborn screening cards from the Georgia Public Health Laboratory using the collection outfit order form below.

• DPH's Specimen Collection Outfit Order Form 
  DPH's Specimen Collection Outfit Order Form should be completed to request newborn screening collection forms and mailing envelopes for newborn screening.
  
  Newborn Screen Collection Forms and Mailing Envelopes for Newborn Screen are located on the bottom right of the form.  Submission mailing labels are under the Shipping Supplies section.

If you have additional questions, or would like to become a NBS submitter, please contact the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's Customer Service Team at (404) 327-7928 or email [email protected].

DPH has created newborn screening trainings and resources specific to Georgia's policies and procedures. 

Newborn Screening Policy and Procedures

• Georgia Newborn Screening Policy and Procedure Manual
  DPH's policy and procedure manual provides guidance on the implementation of newborn screening for genetic/metabolic, hearing, and critical congenital heart disease screening.
   
• Georgia Newborn Screening Training
  DPH created a series of recorded trainings that provide an overview of the newborn screening requirements in Georgia.  
  • Introduction to Newborn Screening
  • Newborn Dried Blood Spot Screening
  • Newborn CCHD Screening Training
  • Newborn Hearing Screening Training
  • Newborn Screening Knowledge Check

Newborn Dried Blood Spot Screening

• DPH Newborn Screening Specimen Collection Training Video
  DPH created a NBS training video that provides an overview of how to collect a dried blood spot specimen.
   
• Dried Blood Spot Specimen Collection Checklist
  DPH created a Newborn Screening Dried Blood Spot Specimen Collection Checklist to help guide providers through the dried blood spot specimen collection procedure.
   
• NBS Reference Guide of Genetic Disorders

Hearing Screening

• National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management Newborn Hearing Training
   
• Newborn Screening Training Module – Specific to Georgia

It is the responsibility of the delivery facility and the listed provider to contact the parents/guardians of an infant from whom the initial specimen was unsatisfactory to coordinate a repeat newborn dried blood spot specimen collection.

Submitters who collected an unsatisfactory specimen will receive notification from the Georgia Public Health Laboratory advising them of the reason the initial specimen was unsatisfactory and the need to recollect and submit a specimen using a new newborn screening card.  

Laboratory Resources

• Georgia Public Health Laboratory Newborn Screening Unit
  This link is to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's Newborn Screening Unit webpage.
   
• Unsatisfactory Newborn Screening Card Result
  This link is to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's Newborn Screening Unit webpage and provides information about unsatisfactory newborn screening card results.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Georgia Public Health Laboratory at (404) 327-7928 or email [email protected].

The Georgia Newborn Screening Program contracts with Augusta University, Emory University, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia to provide follow-up services to newborns with a positive newborn screening result for specific genetic conditions, sickle cell disease, or sickle cell trait. You may receive a fax, phone call, or letter from these organizations. It's important to schedule follow-up testing/treatment as soon as possible to make sure your patient receives needed care.

Contact Information:

•  
  • Emory Newborn Screening Follow-up Program
    Organic Acid Disorders, Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders, Amino Acid Disorders, Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Endocrine Disorders, and Other Disorders
    Contact Number: (404) 778-8560
    Fax Number: (404) 778-8564
    www.med.emory.edu/departments/human-genetics/patient-care/newborn-screening.html
     
  • Augusta University - Newborn Screening Sickle Cell Follow-Up Program
    Contact Number: (706) 721-6251
    Fax Number: (706) 721-5769
    www.augustahealth.org
     
  • Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Newborn Screening Sickle Cell Follow-Up Program
    Contact Number: (404) 785-1087
    Fax Number: (404) 553-9813
    www.choa.org
     
  • Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia - Sickle Cell Trait Follow-up Program and Sickle Cell Assistance Services
    Contact Number: (404) 755-1641
    Parent Education: (404) 755-1641 extension 203 or extension 235
    Family Services and Support: (404) 755-1642 extension 234
    Fax Number: (404) 755-7955
    www.sicklecellga.org 

Providers can email [email protected] for assistance with NBS invoices.

GPHL Newborn Screening Billing Guide - FAQs

Newborn dried blood spot specimens are screened for over 35 conditions.

• Amino Acid Disorders:
  These affect how the body breaks down proteins, which are important for growth and development. Treatment might involve a special diet and medication.
• Endocrine Disorders:
  These affect hormones that control body functions. Medication helps prevent complications.
• Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders:
  These impact energy production and can harm organs. Treatment includes diet changes and
  supplements.
• Hemoglobin Disorders:
  These affect how blood cells carry oxygen. Early detection helps manage care.
• Lysosomal Storage Disorders:
  These prevent the breakdown of sugars and fats, harming cells and organs. Treatments include
  therapy and medication.
• Organic Acid Disorders:
  These cause harmful acid buildup. Treatment involves diet changes and use of specific vitamins.
• Other Disorders:
  Various conditions that have different treatments and interventions. Some of the conditions include cystic fibrosis (CF), Krabbe disease (KD), and severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID).

A list of the current conditions included in Georgia’s newborn screening panel can be
found here: List of NBS Conditions

Visit DPH's cCMV webpage here.

Mandatory Reporting of Hearing Loss in Georgia

Hearing loss is defined as a threshold average of 15 dB or greater between 500Hz - 4000Hz, whether unilateral (in one ear) or bilateral (in both ears).

The following conditions related to hearing loss are required to be reported to Public Health:

• Newborns “referring” (failing) the initial or follow-up hearing screening, due to suspected hearing loss: Newborns that fail a newborn hearing screening are to be reported to their local Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator immediately following screening or at least within 7 calendar days via "Newborn Hearing Screening Results and Recommendation" form .
• Children through the age of five (5) years with the initial confirmation/diagnosis of suspected permanent hearing loss, measured and described by a licensed audiologist, are required to be reported within 7 days of diagnosis.  Results should be submitted via SendSS. If the provider does not have a SendSS account, they may utilize the “Surveillance of Hearing Loss” form and send the completed form to the EHDI Coordinator in the health district where the child resides.

Information for Hospitals and Birthing Facilities:

Quarterly Data Reports should be submitted to the Georgia Department of Public Health via the EHDI Coordinator in the health district where the hospital or facility is located. Electronic reporting into SendSS is strongly recommended, but can also be reported by paper by fax to (404) 657-2773 or email to [email protected].