Newborn Screening (NBS)

Newborn screening (NBS) identifies potentially serious and life-threatening conditions within the first days of a newborn’s life. Most babies appear healthy and show no signs of illness right after birth. However, some infants may be born with certain conditions or inherited genetic conditions that can lead to disability or death. When detected early, many of these conditions can be managed and can prevent the occurrence of adverse health outcomes.

The Georgia Newborn Screening Program ensures that every newborn born in Georgia has a blood screening, hearing screening, and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening at birth to identify certain conditions (PDF, 576.75 KB) which pose a threat of severe illness, physical or developmental disability, or death.

Blood Screening

Dried Blood Spot Screening - A few drops of blood are collected from the newborn’s heel between 24 to 48 hours of age and sent to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing of over 37 conditions (PDF, 576.75 KB) .

Hearing Screening

Newborn Hearing Screening - Soft sounds are delivered to each ear to measure response to sounds prior to hospital discharge.

Cardiac Screening

Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) Screening - Pulse oximetry is a simple, noninvasive, and painless test that is conducted after 24 hours of age by placing a sensor on the newborn’s right hand and foot to measure the amount of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in the blood.

The Georgia Newborn Screening Program contracts with a network of medical systems and organizations to follow up with abnormal screening results.

Emory University Newborn Screening Follow-Up Program
(Organic Acid Disorders, Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders, Amino Acid Disorders, Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Endocrine Disorders, and Other Disorders)
Augusta University Hemoglobin Follow-Up Program
(Sickle Cell Disease or Other Clinically Significant Hemoglobinopathies)
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hemoglobin Follow-Up Program
(Sickle Cell Disease or Other Clinically Significant Hemoglobinopathies)
Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia
(Sickle Cell Trait and Other Hemoglobin Variants)

Newborn Screening Resources for Specific Audiences:

Hospitals and Providers

The NBS Provider page includes links to the Georgia Newborn Screening Policy and Procedure Manual, reporting forms, and provides answers to FAQs.

NBS Providers

Parents and Caregivers

The Parents and Caregivers page includes newborn screening information, answers to FAQs, resources, and the brochure, What Every Parent Should Know.

Parents and Caregivers

How to Request Newborn Screening Records:

Request Newborn Screening Results

Individuals seeking newborn screening results, including sickle cell results, can email a completed Authorization for Release of Newborn Screening Report form along with valid, unexpired government-issued identification to [email protected]. Enter "NBS Record Request" in the email subject line. Requests will be processed within 3 business days.

Download Request Form (PDF, 1.1 MB)

Georgia Newborn Screening Annual Report

The Georgia Newborn Screening Program Annual Report summarizes dried blood spot screening, newborn hearing screening, and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening data for infants born in Georgia.