Each step in the process of completing and submitting the blood spot card (or collection kit) can be critical to a baby's life.

Specimen Collection Training Video (Minute 11:00 to 15:40 High Importance)

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.  

Financial Assistance

Newborn Screening (NBS) Benefits Program - Contractor Manual, Eligibility Forms, Instructions, and Billing

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)Health Care Providers

DSHS Laboratory Health Care Providers Resource Page
Medical Consultants

Newborn Screening: In-Person and Webinar Training

The 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 health care 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.

Training

• Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education – Program offers self-paced modules with free continuing education credits for primary care providers and other health professionals
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Newborn Screening, Treatment and Referral | Texas Health Steps

Websites

• Baby's First Test – Facts, advice, and support for parents and professionals
• Save Babies Through Screening Foundation – Non-profit organization that advocates for comprehensive newborn screening
• Navigate Life Texas – Resources and support for families raising children with disabilities

Additional Disorder/NBS Information

• DSHS Use and Storage of Dried Blood Spot Cards
• Abbreviations and Alternate Names for the Additional NBS Disorders
• Cystic Fibrosis - Accredited Care Centers in TX
• Cystic Fibrosis - DNA Testing 60-Mutation Panel
• Genetics Home Reference – Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions
• Screening Critically Ill and Premature Infants – NBS protocols for infants in neonatal intensive care units

ACT Sheets or ACTion sheets are action plans for each disorder that provide recommended immediate next steps for a health professional to follow when a newborn has an out-of-range test result. 

Amino Acid Disorders

Core 

• Argininosuccinic Acidemia (ASA)
• Citrullinemia (CIT) 
• Homocystinuria (HCY) 
• Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) 
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Tyrosinemia Type I (TYR I)

Secondary 

• Argininemia (ARG)
• Benign Hyperphenylalaninemia (H-PHE) 
• Biopterin Defect in Cofactor Biosynthesis (BIOPT-BS)
• Biopterin Defect in Cofactor Regeneration (BIOPT-REG) 
• Citrullinemia, type II (CIT II) 
• Hypermethioninemia (MET)
• Tyrosinemia, type II (TYR II)  
• Tyrosinemia, type III (TYR III)

Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders

Core

• Carnitine Uptake Defect (CUD)
• Long-chain L-3-OH acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (LCHAD) 
• Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCAD)
• Trifunctional Protein Deficiency (TFP)
• Very Long-chain acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (VLCAD)

Secondary

• 2,4 Dienoyl-CoA reductase deficiency (DE RED)
• 3-Hydroxyacyl-Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency (HADH) (previously named Medium/Short Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (M/SCHAD)) 
• Carnitine Acylcarnitine Translocase Deficiency (CACT) 
• Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase I Deficiency (CPT1) 
• Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Type II Deficiency (CPTII) 
• Glutaric Academia, Type II (GA2) 
• Medium-chain Ketoacyl-CoA Thiolase Deficiency (MCAT) 
• Short-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (SCAD) 

Organic Acid Disorders

Core

• 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency (3MCC)
• 3-Hydroxy-3methylglutaric Aciduria (HMG) 
• Beta-Ketothiolase Deficiency (BKT)
• Glutaric Acidemia Type 1 (GA1)
• Isovaleric Acidemia (IVA) 
• Methylmalonic Acidemia (Cbl A,B)
• Methylmalonic Acidemia (mutase deficiency form) (MUT) 
• Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency (MCD)
• Propionic Acidemia (PROP)

Secondary

• 2 Methylbutyryl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (2MBG) 
• 2-Methyl-3-Hydroxybutyric Acidemia (2M3HBA)
• 3-Methylglutaconic Aciduria (3MGA) 
• Isobutyrylglycinuria (IBG)
• Methylmalonic Acidemia with Homocystinuria (Cbl C,D)
• Malonic Acidemia (MAL) 

Endocrine Disorders

Core

• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
• Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) 

Hemoglobin Disorders or Hemoglobinopathies

Core

• Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb SS)
• Hemoglobin S/Beta Zero Thalassemia (Hb S/ßTh) 
• [FSC] Hemoglobin S/C Disease (Hb S/C)
• [FSA] Hemoglobin S/Beta+ Thalassemia (HbSß+Disease)

Secondary

• Various Hemoglobinopathies (Var Hb) 
• F,A, Other (Probable Unidentified Hb Variant) 
• FC (HbCC Disease or HbC/Beta Zero Thalassemia) HbC/ß0 Disease  
• FCA (HbC/Beta Plus Thalassemia) HbC/ß+Disease  
• FD (HbDD Disease) Hemoglobin D Disease   
• FE (HbEE or HbE/Beta Zero Thalassemia) EE or Hb E/ß0 Disease  
• FEA (HbE/Beta Plus Thalassemia) HbE/ß+Disease  
• Beta Thalassemia Major (Hemoglobin F [Fetal] Only) 

Lysosomal Diseases

Core 

• Krabbe Disease (infantile)
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 1 (MPS I)
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 2 (MPS II)
• Pompe Disease

Secondary

• Krabbe Disease (later-onset)

Other Disorders

Core 

• Biotinidase Deficiency (BIOT) 
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF) 
• Cystic Fibrosis with One Mutation (CF) 
• Cystic Fibrosis with Two Mutations (CF)
• Galactosemia (GALT)
• Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) 
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) 
• X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD)

Secondary

T-cell related lymphocyte deficiencies