Newborn Screening Blood Test (Heel Stick)

This test is a newborn screening blood test, often called a heel stick, that checks your baby shortly after birth for serious but treatable health conditions, including certain metabolic, hormonal, and genetic disorders.

The acylcarnitine newborn screen panel is a blood test that measures the levels of acylcarnitines in a baby's blood. Acylcarnitines are substances produced when the body breaks down fats for energy. This test is part of routine newborn screening and helps identify infants who may have inherited metabolic disorders.

Newborn screening is important because many of the conditions it detects cause no obvious symptoms at first, yet early treatment can prevent serious health problems, developmental delays, or life-threatening complications. Identifying these conditions in the first days of life allows your baby's care team to begin treatment right away, when it is most effective.

This test screens for rare but serious genetic conditions called fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) and organic acidemias. These conditions prevent the body from properly converting food into energy. Without early treatment, they can lead to developmental delays, organ damage, coma, or even death. The good news is that when detected early through newborn screening, these conditions can often be managed with special diets, medications, and lifestyle modifications.

A nurse or trained technician gently cleans your baby's heel, makes a small puncture with a tiny lancet, and collects a few drops of blood onto a special filter paper card. The sample is then sent to a public health laboratory for analysis. The procedure takes only a few minutes and may cause brief discomfort for your baby, which usually passes quickly.

A healthcare provider will prick your baby's heel to collect a few drops of blood. The blood is placed on a special paper card and sent to a laboratory for analysis. This is usually done 24-48 hours after birth, before the baby leaves the hospital. The test is quick and generally causes only mild discomfort.

Most babies have normal results, meaning no signs of the screened conditions were found. If a result falls outside the expected range, it does not necessarily mean your baby has a condition; it means additional testing is needed to confirm or rule it out. Your baby's doctor will contact you promptly to arrange follow-up testing and explain the next steps.

Results are reported as either 'normal' or 'abnormal.' An abnormal result does not automatically mean your baby has a disorder—it simply indicates that further testing is needed. If the initial screening shows abnormal acylcarnitine levels, your healthcare provider will contact you to discuss follow-up testing, which may include more detailed blood tests, urine tests, or genetic testing. It is important to attend all follow-up appointments to determine if treatment is needed.