4 Medical Tests Your Newborn May Have in the Hospital

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS

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  The Importance of Screening

  Once you’ve delivered your baby, you’re probably anxious to go home and bond. But before you leave the hospital, your newborn is required to have a few medical tests. These tests are important because they can identify health problems early, when they are most treatable.
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  1. The Apgar Test

  This test is usually performed one minute after birth and again five minutes later. It measures your baby’s heart rate, breathing, activity, muscle tone, skin color, and reflexes. On a scale of 0 to 10, a score of 7 or higher is considered very healthy. More than 98% of babies reach a healthy score after five minutes.
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  2. Heel Stick Test (or Metabolic Testing)

  About 24 to 48 hours after birth, a nurse or doctor will prick your baby’s heel to gather a few drops of blood. Although it’s hard to see your newborn prodded, it’s for a good reason. The blood is tested for up to 30 different diseases, such as sickle cell disease and hypothyroidism. The diseases tested vary somewhat by state. To learn what specific diseases your baby will be tested for, go to www.babysfirsttest.org.
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  3. Hearing Test

  Hearing problems aren’t uncommon in babies, but they can be difficult to detect on your own. That’s why doctors test newborns in the hospital, using tiny microphones to see how babies react to sound. The test isn’t painful. In fact, your baby may be asleep while it’s done. If your little one has a hearing problem, early treatment and services can help prevent speech and language delays.
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  4. Pulse Oximetry Test

  The pulse oximetry test is a painless, noninvasive test that uses a sensor placed on your baby’s skin to measure oxygen levels in the blood. The test can help doctors diagnose infants with critical congenital heart defects before they show signs of the condition. Diagnosing and treating birth defects early can help prevent serious problems, such as disability and even death.
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  Waiting for Results

  Don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear about the results of your newborn’s screening tests. For the most part, parents aren’t contacted unless the baby has an abnormal result. If you are concerned, contact your healthcare provider to confirm your baby passed the tests.
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  Getting Help

  If your newborn’s screening tests show a potential medical problem, make sure your baby gets the follow-up care he or she needs right away. Although not every abnormal result signals a true problem, it does mean additional testing may be necessary to confirm or rule out a condition.

4 Medical Tests Your Newborn May Have in the Hospital

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