If you want more information about the newborn metabolic screening program, including a program overview and statistics, please click on the button below. All parents want healthy babies. However, some children are born with errors in their body chemistry that often show no outward symptoms. If these rare but serious conditions are not discovered early, poor physical and mental development, and even death, may occur. If found and treated before symptoms appear, babies born with these disorders may lead a normal, healthy life.
State law requires that every newborn baby be tested.
You may refuse to have your baby tested if it is against your religion. Parents who refuse the test must sign a refusal form. In Hawaii, all newborns are checked for seven different conditions. Your baby's heel is pricked and a few drops of blood are put on a special test paper. This test paper is sent to a state approved laboratory.