Newborn Screening Acts & Regulations

Newborn screening is a set of screenings a baby receives after birth. In Pennsylvania, newborns receive a dried blood spot (DBS) screen, a critical congenital heart defect screen (CCHD), and a hearing screen. These screens should be performed when babies are 24 to 48 hours old. If the baby was born in a hospital, the newborn screening tests will be completed prior to being discharged. If the baby was born at home or in a birthing facility, the midwife or doctor attending the birth will provide information as to what steps need to be taken to have the newborn screening tests completed.

Acts

• 2001 Act 89- iHEARR Act
• 2008 Act 36- Newborn Child Testing Act
  • Amended by:  2020 Act No. 133- NEWBORN CHILD TESTING ACT
• 2014 Act 94 - Newborn Child Pulse Oximetry Screening Act
• 2022 Act 29- CMV EDUCATION AND NEWBORN SCREENING ACT
  

Regulations

• 28 Pa. Code Chapter 27. Communicable And Noncommunicable Diseases
• 28 Pa. Code Chapter 28. Screening And Follow-Up For Diseases Of The Newborn
  

PA Bulletins

• 01.02.21 Changes to the Mandated Newborn Screening and Genetics Panels
• 08.13.22 Change to Cystic Fibrosis Screening
• 08.27.22 Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Education and Newborn Screening
  
• 03.25.23 Addition of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II
• 05.06.23 Addition of Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase Deficiency
  

Where can I get more information?

If you have questions about your baby's newborn screening result, contact your baby's health care provider or call the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Program at 717-783-8143.