Mission Statement
The Newborn Screening (NBS) Clinical Care Coordination Program seeks to decrease the morbidity and mortality of infants born in Texas through customer-oriented, high quality newborn screening follow-up, case management and outreach education.
Texas newborns are screened for rare, but serious genetic disorders or medical conditions. Blood samples that are sent to the Austin state laboratory are screened for 54 conditions. Babies also receive newborn hearing screening and are screened for critical congenital heart disease before they leave the birthing facility.
Finding these conditions early can help prevent serious complications. Treatment must begin as soon as possible because many of these disorders can cause developmental delays, illness or even death.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month
September is Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month in Texas. The 86th Legislature made this designation through the House Concurrent Resolution 117 and the designation will remain in effect until 2029.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans. The condition is far more common among black or African Americans, occurring in about 1 in every 365 individuals. Sickle cell trait is present in 1 in every 13 black or African American infants at birth. Around 1 in every 16,300 Hispanic American newborns also suffers from the condition.
Sickle cell disease can lead to anemia, infections, chronic pain, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. Severe cases can be life-threatening. Easy access to comprehensive medical care is important. Unfortunately, inadequate infrastructure and socioeconomic factors are responsible for disparities in health outcomes for people with sickle cell. Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month can increase public support for people with this debilitating disorder.
Approximately 180 children a year are diagnosed with sickle cell disease in Texas. Over 5,000 Texas children are identified with sickle cell trait. These children are identified through newborn screening. Early diagnosis leads to referral to sickle cell specialists and preventive care. Learn more about sickle cell disease and available resources.
Texas Now Screening for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD)
The Newborn Screening program began screening for X-ALD on August 5, 2019. Information about the disorder can be found in the attachments and link below and include:
Nurses and PHPS Help to Save Babies Lives 
Once an abnormal test result is received, Texas Department of State Health Services nurses and public
health and prevention specialists (PHPS) work diligently to ensure that babies
receive follow-up care. Read about a few babies whose lives were saved because
of newborn screening.
Newborn Screening Videos: Review Proper Procedures and Helpful Tips
Each step in the process of completing and submitting the blood spot card (or collection kit) can be critical to a baby's life.
Newborn screening blood specimen collection video (5 minutes) demonstrates the proper procedure for collecting a newborn screen blood specimen. It also provides a few collection tips and shows some things to avoid.
Newborn screening follow-up video (4 minutes) guides medical providers on how they can help after an abnormal screening result is received. It reviews the primary steps taken by newborn screening follow-up staff. Because some babies can have a medical crisis, it is important to notify families and medical personnel as soon as possible.
Collection kit completion video (5 minutes) shows how to properly complete each section of the blood spot collection kit. Incorrect or missing information can cause delays, specimen rejection, or incorrect evaluation of test results.
Collection kit submission video (5 minutes) reviews the process for preparing and shipping specimens to the state laboratory. Timely submission of the blood spot kit is as important as completing the kit correctly and obtaining a good quality specimen.
More About Proper Specimen Collection:
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Every Minute Counts: Timely Blood Samples Save Babies Lives
Texas newborns are screened through a test from a few drops of blood on a card. For many of these conditions, every minute counts. That's why it is critical that the state laboratory receives the properly completed blood spot cards as soon as possible.
More Than Drops On a Card video (5 minutes) features two Texas families. They share their stories of the importance of collecting timely, good quality specimens.
Free Educational Materials
The Newborn Screening Program provides educational materials at no cost. Brochures and other publications are available in English and Spanish for healthcare providers, parents, and medical staff. To view and order free publications related to:
You also can call (512) 776-3957 to order publications.
Newborns Screening Tests for 24 Secondary and 31 Core Conditions
Since May 2015, all Texas newborns are screened for 24 secondary conditions that can cause developmental delays, major illness or even death. Previously, the blood spot screening included only 29 core conditions. Two other core conditions relate to testing a newborn’s hearing and screening for critical congenital heart disease before the baby leaves the birthing facility. Read the
DSHS news release.
Cytomegalovirus: A Common Cause of Hearing Loss in Children
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common viral infection. Most people have been infected with CMV by the time they are adults. If the CMV infection occurs for the first time during pregnancy, especially early in pregnancy, the developing fetus may have birth defects including being deaf or hard of hearing.
Read more about CMV.
Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in Texas
Reporting babies diagnosed with Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) is mandatory in Texas since September 2014. Learn more about CCHD including viewing the CCHD reporting form and frequently asked questions. The CCHD toolkit provides educational information on screening for CCHD.
Newborn Screening Training: In-Person and Webinar
The Newborn Screening (NBS) program offers in-person and live webinar trainings. These educational trainings are designed to provide general information on the NBS program, genetic disorders screened in Texas, specimen collection, the importance of early detection and treatment, and resources available to assist healthcare providers participating in newborn screening.
- In-person training is generally for audiences of 15 or more. Email nbs.education@dshs.texas.gov to schedule in-person training for your organization.
- Webinar training is for small to mid-size groups. The online presentation allows participants to view documents and applications electronically from any computer. During the webinar, participants can ask questions. Email nbs.education@dshs.texas.gov to schedule a webinar training for your organization.
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External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may not be accessible to people with disabilities.