Newborn Screening

Summary

What is Newborn Screening (NBS)?

All babies born in Washington State are screened shortly after birth. The Washington State Department of Health (Department) conducts this NBS testing using a small blood spot sample collected from a baby’s heel.

NBS checks for certain rare, serious, and treatable health conditions. Without early detection and treatment, these conditions can cause serious illness, lifelong disability, or death. Screening helps ensure babies get the care they need as early as possible.

For More Information

Statutory Authority: RCW 70.83.050
Board Contact: Molly Dinardo, molly.dinardo@sboh.wa.gov
Department of Health Contact: Megan McCrillis, megan.mccrillis@doh.wa.gov
To receive future updates on newborn screening please complete the NBS interest form online.

Additional Background

The Role of the Washington State Board of Health

Washington law (RCW 70.83.050) directs the Washington State Board of Health (Board) to set the rules for the Department’s NBS Program. One of the Board’s primary responsibilities is deciding which health conditions all babies born in Washington must be screened for. This list, known as the mandatory NBS panel, is defined in WAC 246-650-020.

The Board also: 

  • Reviews requests to consider new conditions for NBS.
  • Convenes expert Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) to evaluate potential conditions and determine whether they meet the Board’s screening criteria.
  • Reviews TAC recommendations and makes final decisions about adding new conditions to the NBS panel.
  • Ensures decisions are based on scientific evidence, that babies who screen positive can reasonably access diagnosis and treatment, and that the benefits of screening outweigh potential harms.
  • Monitors federal recommendations, such as the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), while maintaining state-level decision-making authority.
  • Conducts rulemaking to formally add new conditions to the mandatory screening panel once the Department and Washington State Health Care Authority receive legislative approval to increase the newborn screening fee.

Reviewing New Conditions

The Board and Department use a well-established process to review health conditions for possible addition to the state mandatory NBS panel. This process is designed to be fair, transparent, and based on the best available evidence. It prioritizes scientific evidence, ethics, equity, cost-effectiveness, and the benefits and harms of universal screening in Washington State.

Requests to review a condition may come from the public (by submitting a petition for rulemaking), the Legislature, Department of Health staff, or State Board of Health Members. 

When a condition is ready for review, the Board convenes a multidisciplinary Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). TAC members include experts across the NBS system of care. The TAC evaluates the condition using the Board’s Newborn Screening Process and Criteria (last updated August 20, 2025) and provides recommendations to help the Board make an informed decision.

Current NBS Conditions Under Review

Below are conditions the Board has selected for TAC review during fiscal year 2026. After each TAC completes its review and issues a recommendation, the Board will decide whether to add the condition to the mandatory NBS panel.

Conditions Recently Reviewed, Approved, and Pending Legislative Action

After the Board approves a new condition, screening cannot begin until additional steps are completed. The Department must receive legislative approval to increase the NBS fee, which pays for new tests, follow-up services, and administrative costs. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), which covers more than 40% of births in the state, must also update Medicaid managed care rates to reflect the increased fee.

The following conditions have been approved by the Board and are awaiting legislative action:

Delayed Condition Reviews

The Board may delay or deny review of a condition based on its established criteria or available evidence about the condition.

Conditions Recently Reviewed and Not Approved

Past Work

This section includes conditions reviewed or considered within the past two years that are no longer under active review. Older materials are removed unless there is a specific need to retain them.

Related Links

Submit a Condition for Review