Newborn blood spot screening can detect serious conditions early, allowing for prompt treatment and a better outcome for the child.
As a provider, it is important to understand the importance of newborn blood spot screening and your role in ensuring the health and well-being of infants long-term with this testing in the first two days.
Your role as a provider is to ensure that the specimen is collected correctly and submitted in a timely manner, as some disorders require early diagnosis and treatment to prevent the onset of symptoms.
By working with the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa and following the specimen collection and handling guidelines, you can help ensure that infants receive the best possible welcome to life.
Newborn Screening Provider / Parent Refusal Form
Medical Professional Newborn Screening Results Form
A child's newborn screening results may be requested by contacting the hospital where the child was born, or by filling out this form.
Designated Laboratory for Newborn Screening in South Dakota
The South Dakota Newborn Screening Program designated contract laboratory is the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa (SHL). SHL is the only authorized laboratory to conduct newborn screening services for infants born in the State of South Dakota. All newborn screening blood spot specimens obtained in South Dakota must be submitted to SHL.
Based in Ankeny, IA, SHL provides highly specialized, life-saving newborn screening testing for babies born in Iowa, North Dakota, Alaska, and South Dakota. Newborn screening laboratory services are carried out 365 days/year, including holidays, weekends, and nights. Other newborn screening laboratory services include courier pick-up and provider notification of retesting and confirmatory testing recommendations.
To access newborn screening reports for babies born at your facility please follow the link below to register for Web Portal Access through The University of Iowa's State Hygienic Laboratory. Once at this site, follow the instructions to locate your facility and request access. Once you've registered, reference the Newborn Screening User Guide to learn how to navigate the site.
Web Portal Application Form Newborn Screening User Guide
Please note that this system will be updated to OpenELIS beginning October 1, 2024.
Newborn Screening OpenELIS Web Portal Live Webinar
Wednesday, September 18, from 2-3 p.m. CT
Description: SHL will be providing web-based training via Zoom for web portal users (primary care providers, hospital, clinic, and midwifery staff.)
Intended Audience: Web portal users involved in newborn screening submissions, tracking, quality assurance, and report viewing/downloading.
- Training Flyer: This flier can be placed in common areas (i.e., break rooms, announcement boards, etc.)
- Memo for Newborn Screening Partners
- If you cannot attend, the webinar will be posted on the website: https://www.shl.uiowa.edu/news/newbornscreeninglimsupgrade.xml
Newborn Screening Training Materials and Resources for Hospital laboratory and Nursery Staff
- Newborn Screening Program Quality Improvement Checklist
- PowerPoint training on newborn screening specimen collection and card completion. Prepared by the contract laboratory, the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa.
- Putting Babies First Through Newborn Screening - 10-minute video of newborn screening specimen collection and laboratory processes. Includes questions and answers between hospital staff and laboratory personnel and was created by the contract laboratory, the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa.
Newborn Blood Spot Screening Program Resources
- Newborn Screening Program Brochure
- Newborn Screening Flyer (no pictures)
- Newborn Screening Reminders for Home Births
- Genetic Services
- Birth facilities and providers can order Newborn Screening educational materials here under the "Family Health" category.
- Genetic Services in South Dakota
- Contact information
- American Sickle Cell Anemia Association
- March of Dimes
- American Thyroid Association
- Children's PKU Network
- CARES Foundation
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- FOD Family Support Group
- Genetic Alliance
- Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) Family Support Group
- National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation
- Parents of Galactosemic Children, Inc.
- SCID, Angels for Life Foundation
- Immune Deficiency Foundation
The department exercises no control over the content of the following sites and provides the links for informational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for medical care.
- Baby's First Test
- Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Diseases in Newborns & Children
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa(South Dakota Newborn Metabolic Screening Program Designated Lab)
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American College of Medical Genetics - Newborn Screening ACT Sheets and Confirmatory Algorithms
- Genetics Home Reference – consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variations on human health
- Heartland Regional Genetics and Newborn Screening Collaborative – a network of genetics and newborn screening providers, advocates, and other stakeholders from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota
- Education Poster
- Specimen Collection Card Instructions
- Newborn Screening Dried Bloodspot Collection Form Education Webinar Video, March 21, 2017
To learn more about the services provided by South Dakota's Newborn Screening Program and the conditions it screens for, download this pamphlet.