Newborn Screening Test: What Parents Need to Know About Their Baby's First Blood Test
A blood test to determine your baby's ABO blood type (A, B, AB, or O) using a sample from the newborn.
{"Identifies your baby's blood type as A, B, AB, or O","Helps prepare for safe blood transfusions if needed","Screens for potential blood type incompatibility between mother and baby","A simple blood test performed shortly after birth","Results are important for future medical care"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 14580-5
- Short code
- ABO Group Bld NB
- Synonyms
- ABO Group Bld NB
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- whole-blood
- Container
- Lavender-top (EDTA)
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Specimen volume
- 3 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 4h, Refrigerated: 24h
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What is the newborn screening test, and which health conditions does it check for in my baby?
The ABO blood type test is a routine laboratory test performed on newborns to determine their blood group (A, B, AB, or O). This test analyzes the antigens present on the surface of red blood cells. Every person inherits their blood type from their parents, and the ABO system is the most clinically important blood group system for transfusion safety and pregnancy management.
How is the newborn screening test performed, and will the heel stick be painful or harmful for my baby?
A small blood sample is taken from your baby's heel (heel stick) or sometimes from the umbilical cord immediately after birth. The blood sample is then sent to the laboratory where it is tested against special reagents to determine the ABO group. This test is typically part of the standard newborn screening panel.
Why is newborn screening so important for my baby's long-term health, even if they seem completely healthy at birth?
Knowing your baby's blood type is essential for several reasons: it ensures safe blood transfusion compatibility if needed, helps healthcare providers monitor for ABO incompatibility between mother and baby (which can cause jaundice or anemia), and provides important information for future medical care throughout your child's life.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
The ABO blood type test is clinically significant because it identifies the specific blood group of the newborn, which is critical for transfusion medicine, detecting hemolytic disease of the newborn due to ABO incompatibility, and providing baseline blood type information for lifelong medical reference. If a mother is blood type O and her baby is A, B, or AB, there is potential for ABO incompatibility that may require monitoring for neonatal jaundice.
Frequently asked questions
Is this test painful for my baby?
When will I get the results?
Does this test tell me the Rh factor?
What if my baby's blood type is different from mine?
Will my baby need treatment based on the results?
Sources
- 1
- 2
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy