Blood spot testing and your child

What is blood spot testing?

Blood spot testing is a blood screening test which allows your child to be tested for 1 of 9 rare conditions. These conditions are:

• Sickle cell disease.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Congenital hypothyroidism.

Or these inherited metabolic diseases: 

• Phenylketonuria (PKU).
• Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD).
• Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).
• Isovaleric acidaemia (IVA).
• Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1).
• Homocystinuria (pyridoxine unresponsive) (HCU).

Completing this blood spot test, allows these conditions to be identified and treated, improving your child’s health.

Why does your child have to have a blood spot test?

When a child is born in the UK, blood spot testing is routinely done to rule out rare conditions in the first few weeks after birth. Because your child was born in another country, we must complete this test here. This can only be done if your child is under the age of 1.

What can you expect from your appointment?

One of our nurses will bring you and your child into one of our treatment rooms and will discuss the procedure, talking you through any questions you may have.

Your child will then have the blood spot carried out. This involves a small heel prick using a lancet (small needle) to get small drops of blood which are then applied to a card as shown in the picture. Your child may cry or become distressed when this is done, so reassurance and lots of cuddles will help.

Once the sample has been taken, this will be sent off to the lab to be processed. The results usually take a few weeks and you will be sent a letter if any of your child’s results are abnormal. If you have any questions or queries after your appointment you can contact us. Our details are on the back of this leaflet.

For further information speak to your GP or contact one of our nursing team at the Paediatric Outpatients Department.

Sources of further information

Newborn blood spot test - NHS

Blood spot - GOV.UK

Information in different langauges

Newborn blood spot screening (English and translations) | HSC Public Health Agency

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published December 2024. Review due December 2027. NBT003748