TDH rules implementing state law mandate two screens. The first screen is required prior to the newborn's discharge from the hospital. The second screen is required at one to two weeks of age.
Some states require only one.
It is standard practice to take the first sample early, during the hospital stay, to detect some of the disorders at the earliest possible opportunity. However, in some cases, the first sample can be taken too early and a disorder may only be detected on the second screen. Studies indicate that six to eight percent of hypothyroidism cases are detected on the second screen. The Board of Health has acted on this information and opted to provide a model program for the detection of these disorders. The newborn screening test kit includes a specimen collection device, a form for demographic information and a special envelope.