No matter how healthy a newborn might look, it's essential they are checked for unexpected medical conditions. Newborn screening is the practice of testing every newborn for certain harmful or potentially fatal disorders that aren't otherwise apparent at birth. When such conditions are detected early, diagnosed and treated, newborns stand a much better chance of avoiding disabilities and living a full, productive life.

The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Newborn Screening Program now screens for 56 disorders. The lab test panel that checks for hidden health disorders in newborns is called Newborn Bloodspot Screening.

The program originally began testing for just one disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU). The test panel has since evolved to include multiple disorders such as cystic fibrosis (CF), congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), hemoglobin diseases and traits such as sickle cell, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), various inborn errors of metabolism, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Krabbe Disease, and most recently X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and Argininemia.

Announcements

Changes in Newborn Screening Hemoglobinopathy Reporting Newborn Screening to Include Krabbe Screening New Expected Ranges for Newborn Screening AA, SA, and AC Analytes 2-21-2024 Updated Expected Ranges for Newborn Screening Analytes 4-10-2024 Updates & New Disorders Added to Newborn Screening Panel, X-ALD and Argininemia

Additional Information

For a complete list and description, please see the Newborn Screening Manual: 

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Medical Provider and Parent Information Sheets
• Hemoglobin/Sickle Cell Test Results for NCAA Requirements
• Footnotes: Newborn Screening Newsletter
  • Issue 11
  • Issue 10
  • Issue 9
  • Issue 8
  • Issue 7
  • Issue 6
  • Issue 5
  • Issue 4
  • Issue 3
  • Issue 2
  • Issue 1
• Training Video for Newborn Screening Bloodspot Specimens (YouTube)

For Healthcare Professionals & Facilities