Newborn Screening (NBS)

Newborn Screening  |  Parents/Caregivers  |  Policies and Procedures  |  Krabbe Disease  |  Hearing Screening  |  NBS Advisory Committee  |  NBS Resources

Newborn Screening Specimen Collection Video

Most babies appear healthy and show no signs of illness right after birth. However, some infants may be born with certain heritable diseases that can lead to disability or death. When detected early, many of these disorders can be managed and can prevent the occurrence of adverse health outcomes.

The Georgia Newborn Screening (NBS) Program is a six-part preventive health care system designed to identify and provide early treatment for 31 selected inherited disorders that otherwise would cause significant morbidity or death. The six components of the system are:

• Education: of parents and health care providers

• Screening: universal testing of all newborns

• Follow-up: rapid retrieval and referral of the screen-positive newborn

• Medical Diagnosis: confirmation of a normal or abnormal screening test result by a private physician or tertiary treatment center

• Management: rapid implementation and long-term planning of therapy

• Evaluation: validation of testing procedures, efficiency of follow-up and intervention, and benefit to the patient, family, and society. Includes consideration of adding other tests to the system as indicated by appropriate research and scientific evidence.

The Georgia Newborn Screening Program ensures that every newborn in Georgia is screened for 31 heritable disorders for prompt identification and treatment.

The program is responsible for the following:

1. Administration of the newborn screening system, including the oversight of follow-up programs.

2. Monitoring and evaluating newborn screening practices.

3. Managing electronic data surveillance and tracking system, including maintenance of long term results.

4. Facilitating communication between practitioners, birth hospitals, the laboratory personnel, and the follow-up teams.

5. Providing ongoing education for practitioners.

6. Reporting results to state and federal officials and to the public.

History of the Newborn Screening Program

Disorder Specific Information

Contact Information