How to get newborn screening results

• For anyone requesting newborn screening results
  

• For anyone requesting sickle ​cell trait results, including NCAA athletes
  

• Frequently asked questions​
  

​For anyone requesting newborn screening results​

Some people may want to request their newborn’s or their own newborn screening results. Usually it is best to review these results with a doctor or medical provider. Parents must request results for children under 18. ​People over 18 must request the results themselves. To request newborn screening results, use CDPH Form 4408, Consent for Release of Information (PD​​F).​

Note that screening is designed to identify individuals in a population who may be at an increased risk of a certain disorder. Screening identifies those who will benefit from further evaluation from a licensed medical professional. ​​Screening is not the same as a diagnostic test. A diagnostic test is required to confirm a screening result. 

Sending results to a doctor or medical provider

One reason people sometimes request newborn screening results is when the doctor who attended the birth is not the baby’s doctor or medical provider. In this case, the doctor, medical provider, or parent may request that the results are sent to the baby's doctor instead of the doctor who attended the birth.

The California Newborn Screening (NBS) Program sends copies of the newborn screening results to the baby’s hospital of birth and to the baby’s primary care doctor on record. The pink and blue copies of the NBS Program Test Request Form are provided to parents as proof that the test was done. They are usually taken to the baby’s first doctor visit so that the baby’s results can be located. 

If the baby’s current doctor is not the same person entered on the NBS Program Test Request Form​, the baby’s current doctor will need to submit the written consent form to get the results. Results should be expected within 2 to 3 weeks. If results have not been received by 3 weeks, an additional request is needed.

HIPAA​

Per Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, a parent or guardian signature is required unless the request is being submitted by the physician of record. If the family is unavailable to sign the consent form but has already signed a “Consent to Treat” or “Consent for Release of Information,​​” a copy of that release may be accepted, provided it includes the minimum information needed. 

If the NBS Program Test Request Form is available, this may be sent by the physician on record instead of the CDPH Form 4408, as long as the request specifies who the records should be released to.​​

CDPH Form 4408 (PDF)  

CDPH Form 4408 is fillable and must be saved to a computer to keep your changes. You can also print out the form, fill it in with pen in BLOCK letters, and scan it to a computer or take a photo with a phone. You can't submit this form online but do need to share it with the NBS Program in one of the ways listed below. 

Once the form is filled and ready, please send it to the NBS Program in one of the following ways:

• Email NBS.Results@cdph.ca.gov
  
• Fax 510-412-1559
  
• Mail to Attention: NBS Program Results, Genetic Disease Screening Program, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, F175 MS8200, Richmond, CA 94804​

For anyone requesting sickle cell trait results, including NCAA athletes

The California Newborn Screening Program has been screening all babies in California for sickle cell disease  since February 27, 1990. The screening methodology used in California also identifies babies with sickle cell trait and  other hemoglobin traits​. 

Results are available only for those born after February 27, 1990. These results will satisfy the NCAA requirement for college student athletes to have documentation of their sickle cell trait status.​ ​​​

To requ​e​st newborn screening results for hemoglobin, including sickle cell trait​, you must submit a CDPH Form 4400​ (​PDF) online.​ 

Note that screening is designed to identify individuals in a population who may be at an increased risk of a certain disorder. Screening identifies those who will benefit from further evaluation from a licensed medical professional. ​​Screening is not the same as a diagnostic test. A diagnostic test is required to confirm a screening result. ​

It may take from a few days to up to a month to process your request. 

​Please read who can fill out CDPH Form 4400​: 

1. If the student is 18 years or older: the student must fill the form. Parents, caregivers, or guardians cannot request results for children 18 years or older
2. If the student is under 18 years: parents, caregivers, or guardians​ must fill out the form to request results​

The results will be emailed to the email address or addresses provided. If you are an NCAA athlete, include your email address or the email addresses of coaches or trainers or both for reporting of results.​

Please note that you can also get a sickle cell trait test from your doctor or medical provider. Documentation of that tes​t would also satisfy the NCAA requirement. 

CDPH Form 4400​ (​PDF)

To reque​​st res​​ults

If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat ​software on your computer, you will need to download the program to fill out CDPH Form 4400 (PDF) and submit it online. 

To download Adobe Acrobat: On the Adobe Acrobat web page, click on the “Download Adobe Reader” button and follow the instructions on the screen to download the program to your computer.​​

Step 1: Download the form

• Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox user: please right click the CDPH Form 4400 (PDF) link and choose “Save link as” to download the file, name it, and save it to your computer or tablet.

• Safari (Mac) user: ​​please click the ​CDPH 4400 (PDF) form link to download the file, name it, and save it to your computer or tablet.
  

Step 2: Save the file

Find the “Download”​ folder on your computer where the file has downloaded with the name you gave it. Click on the file to open it. The fields to fill out should be outlined in red. 

If the fields are not outlined in red, save the file to the computer again, then close that file. Reopen the file from the “Download” folder. If the fields to fill out are outlined in red, you are ready to fill out the form.

Step 3: Fill out the form

Fill out all the required fields outlined in red. Include all basic information. If you do not have information to put in one or two fields that are not outlined in red, leave them blank.

Step 4: Send in the form online

When the form is filled and ready, send in the form online by clicking on the “Submit Online” button at the top of CDPH Form 4400. Clicking on that button should create an email that is ready to send. Send the email.

​​If you are unable to submit the form online

If the “Submit Online” button does not work, there are other ways to send in CDPH Form 4400.

1. ​When CDPH Form 4400 is filled and ready,​ save it to the computer again. ​Email the PDF file from your computer​ by attaching it to an email addressed to NCAANBSresults@cdph.ca.gov, or
   

2. Print out CDPH Form 4400 using the “Print” button on the second page. On the printed form, fill in the required fields using a pen in BLOCK letters that are easy to read. Scan CDPH Form 4400​  to a computer or take a photo of it with a phone. Email the PDF version of CDPH Form 4400 from your computer​ or phone by attaching it to an email addressed to NCAANBSresults@cdph.ca.gov.​​​​
   

Requesting Newborn Screening Results FAQ