In California, a newborn screening specimen must be collected within 12 to 48 hours of birth, with 24 hours of life being the optimal time for collection. A general overview video (not California-specific) on newborn screening blood spot collection:
Test Request Form (TRF)
A complete Test Request Form (TRF) is needed for every California birth, whether performed at home or at a freestanding birth center. Newborn screening documentation using the TRF must be completed within 12 to 48 hours of birth. All birth attendants should keep the TRFās yellow copy and provide the TRFās pink/blue copy to the family. The family will use the pink/blue copy to help the pediatrician get the results and use the copy for registering the birth.
Please make sure to follow the instructions outlined in the
Newborn Screening Program Collection Poster (PDF) and communicate the importance of this form with the childās parents. Please note that a completed TRF must be sent to the processing laboratory regardless of whether a newborn screening specimen was collected or not.ā
Shipping your newborn screening specimens to the processing laboratory
Online specimen tracking
Online Specimen Tracking (OST) is a regulatory requirement (17 CCR Ā§ 6506) that helps ensure all babies born in California have the best possible start in life. OST is accessed via the California Department of Public Health
Screening Information System (SIS)ā. ā
āāHospitals, midwives, and those working in community birth settings are required to access SIS within 7 days of a birth to verify that newborn screening specimens are received by an NBS Program laboratory. If a specimen has not been received, it is reported as a missing specimen and an investigation is conducted to locate the specimen.āā āThis is an important measure to make sure the specimen(s) are not lost and thus prevent any delays in getting results.
Request OST training for yourself or any a new provider by emailing this address:
NBSOST@cdph.ca.gov
Please visit theā NBS Program Online Specimen Tracking web page to find out more about OST.
Billing and payment for newborn screening
After the newborn screening specimen has been processed, the parents will be sent an invoice for the test along with a form for their insurance information. By filling out and sending back the insurance form, the California Newborn Screening Program will bill the parentsā insurance directly for the screening.
The parents will always have the choice of paying the invoice themselves as well if they do not wish to use their insurance as a payor for the screening. To pay for your childās newborn screening test directly, please
visit the NBS Program Payment Portalā or call 1-800-597-0832 for assistance.ā
For invoice payment and billing Information and the current Newborn Screening Program fee, please see the
NBS Program Billing and Payment FAQ webā page.
Supplies
Effective May 1, 2023, the NBS program has retired and discontinued all PDF and paper copies of the NBS Program Provider Supply Order Form for Hospital & Out-of-Hospital Providers (CDPH Form 4010). Please use the online NBS Program Supply Order Portal instead. Remember to always include your provider code to avoid delays.āā