Rhode Island Department of Health Genetics Website

Newborn Screening

Newborn Screening Updates Coming Soon!

A small drop of blood is taken from the heel of newborn infants before they leave the hospital to screen for certain congenital disorders. Early testing is the only way to detect these conditions before they harm the infant, but all the conditions can be treated once detected. The screenings can prevent mental retardation, illness, and/or death in affected children. A child with any of these diseases usually appears normal at birth but would already be seriously ill by the time symptoms appeared. Newborn screening allows children who would otherwise be retarded or die during early infancy to develop into healthy children.

Newborn Screening in Rhode Island
for Metabolic, Endocrine and Hemoglobin Disorders

Current list of conditions for the RI Newborn Screening Program including date screening began for each condition

For more information contact Kristi Zonno,
Newborn Screening Program Manager, at 222.5982
kristi.zonno@health.ri.gov