What is the purpose of heel stick screening for newborns?

Heel stick screening for newborns is primarily performed to test for metabolic and genetic disorders. This procedure involves obtaining a small blood sample from the baby's heel to check for a variety of conditions that can affect a newborn's overall health and development. These screenings are crucial because they can detect conditions such as phenylketonuria (PKU), congenital hypothyroidism, and other metabolic disorders early on, allowing for timely interventions that can prevent serious complications or even life-threatening situations.

The screening focuses on identifying metabolic issues, which may not show obvious symptoms soon after birth but can lead to long-term health challenges if left untreated. Early diagnosis through such screenings can enable healthcare providers to initiate treatment plans early, improving long-term outcomes for the newborn.

While other options address important aspects of newborn health, such as testing for infectious diseases or measuring blood oxygen levels, these are not the primary purpose of heel stick screening. The hearing capacity of a newborn is typically assessed through different methods unrelated to heel stick screening.