Newborn Bloodspot Screening in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Newborn bloodspot screening (often called the “heel prick test”) is a routine test offered to every baby born in Grand Rapids and across Michigan. Hospitals such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) in Grand Rapids, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health all follow Michigan’s newborn screening program to help detect rare but serious health conditions early in life.

Newborn screening is especially important in a state like Michigan, where cold winters and seasonal illnesses can make it harder to recognize early signs of certain medical conditions. Early detection allows babies in the Grand Rapids area to get prompt care from local pediatric specialists.

What Is Newborn Bloodspot Screening?

Newborn bloodspot screening is a simple blood test that looks for rare but serious medical conditions that:

  • Usually do not show symptoms at birth
  • Often do not have a known family history
  • Can cause permanent disability or even death if not found and treated early

These conditions affect how a baby’s body works—for example, how it breaks down certain proteins and fats, or how hormones are produced.

In Grand Rapids, this screening is typically offered:

  • In the hospital where your baby is born (such as Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids), or
  • At home if you have a home birth with a midwife or visiting nurse

Early testing and treatment can prevent serious health problems and improve your baby’s long-term health and development.

You have the right to make an informed choice about newborn screening for your baby.

  • If you agree to have your baby tested, you will be asked to provide informed written consent.
  • If you decline the test, you will be asked to sign a statement confirming that you understand the risks of not screening your baby.

In Grand Rapids, your care team—your obstetrician, midwife, or pediatrician—can explain the test, answer questions, and help you understand how it fits into your baby’s overall care plan.

Why Early Screening Matters

The Conditions Are Rare, but the Risks Are Serious

Although each individual condition is rare, the consequences of missing one can be severe. Without early detection and treatment, some conditions can:

  • Permanently affect your baby’s brain development
  • Cause serious growth problems
  • Lead to life‑threatening illness or even death

By the time symptoms appear, damage may already have occurred. This is why Michigan’s newborn screening program is designed to identify affected babies before they become sick.

Screening Helps Babies Get Treatment Early

When a condition is found through newborn bloodspot screening:

  • Most babies can start treatment early, often before symptoms appear
  • Treatment can reduce or prevent long‑term health problems
  • Families in the Grand Rapids area can be quickly connected to specialists at local hospitals and clinics

How Newborn Bloodspot Screening Is Performed

When and How the Test Is Done

In Michigan, the newborn bloodspot test is usually done between 24 and 72 hours after birth. In many Grand Rapids hospitals, it is commonly performed around 48 hours of age.

A nurse or midwife will:

  1. Clean your baby’s heel with an antiseptic wipe
  2. Use a small, sterile lancet to prick the heel
  3. Collect a few drops of blood onto a special filter paper card
  4. Allow the blood spots to dry, then send the card to a state-certified laboratory for testing

This can be done:

  • While you and your baby are still in the hospital, or
  • At home if you have an early discharge or a home birth

Does the Heel Prick Hurt?

  • The heel prick may cause brief discomfort for your baby.
  • Many parents in Grand Rapids choose to hold, cuddle, or breastfeed during the test, which can help soothe the baby.
  • The test is safe and the amount of blood taken is very small.

There is a small risk of infection, but staff follow strict hygiene procedures—wearing gloves and cleaning the skin—to keep this risk as low as possible.

What the Lab Looks For

The dried blood spots are sent to a specialized laboratory (through Michigan’s Newborn Screening Program) where they are tested for biochemical markers—substances in the blood that can indicate a condition is present.

  • These substances are called markers.
  • For some conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, if a marker is elevated, the lab may perform an additional genetic test on the same sample to look for specific gene changes.

Only a small percentage of samples (about 1%) with certain abnormal markers are tested genetically, and this is tightly regulated.

Conditions Detected by Newborn Bloodspot Screening

Michigan’s newborn screening panel is one of the most comprehensive in the country and includes more than 50 conditions. Some of the key conditions include:

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

  • A metabolic disorder where the body cannot break down an amino acid called phenylalanine, found in many protein‑rich foods.
  • If untreated, phenylalanine builds up in the blood and can lead to intellectual disability and other neurological problems.
  • Early diagnosis allows treatment with a special low‑phenylalanine diet, helping children grow and develop more normally.

Congenital Hypothyroidism (Hypothyroidism)

  • A condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
  • Thyroid hormone is essential for brain development and growth.
  • Without treatment, it can cause severe intellectual disability and growth problems.
  • Treatment is simple: daily thyroid hormone medication, started early in life.

Cystic Fibrosis

  • A genetic condition where the body makes thick, sticky mucus that can clog the lungs, pancreas, and other organs.
  • Can cause chronic lung infections, poor weight gain, and digestive problems.
  • Early diagnosis allows:
    • Close monitoring by a cystic fibrosis care team
    • Medications, airway clearance techniques, and nutrition support
  • Grand Rapids families may be referred to regional CF centers connected with Corewell Health or other Michigan academic centers.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

  • (Classic CAH type only is screened.)
  • A condition affecting the adrenal glands, which produce hormones important for:
    • Blood pressure control
    • Salt balance
    • Stress response
    • Growth and development
  • Untreated classic CAH can cause:
    • Life‑threatening salt loss in newborns
    • Abnormal growth and puberty changes
  • Early detection allows lifesaving hormone replacement therapy.

Other Rare Metabolic Conditions

Newborn screening also detects many other rare metabolic disorders that affect how the body breaks down:

  • Proteins
  • Fats
  • Carbohydrates

If these conditions are found and treated before your baby becomes sick, your child has a much better chance of staying healthy and avoiding serious complications.

Repeat Tests and Positive Results

When a Repeat Sample Is Needed

Sometimes the laboratory may request a repeat bloodspot sample. This can happen if:

  • The first sample was collected too early
  • The blood spots were contaminated or not fully soaked into the card
  • The initial result was unclear

If your baby needs a repeat test:

  • It does not necessarily mean your baby has a condition.
  • Most repeat screening results in Michigan come back normal.
  • Your healthcare provider in Grand Rapids will explain why a repeat is needed and help schedule it quickly.

What a Positive Screening Result Means

If your baby’s screening test suggests a possible condition (a positive screening result):

  • You will be contacted as soon as possible by your healthcare team or the state screening program.
  • You will be referred to a specialist, such as a pediatric endocrinologist, metabolic specialist, or geneticist—often at major centers like Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.
  • Additional tests, usually blood or urine tests, will be done to confirm the diagnosis.

A positive screening result does not always mean your baby definitely has the condition. It means more testing is needed to be sure.

What Happens to My Baby’s Bloodspot Card?

In Michigan:

  • The screening card containing your baby’s dried blood spots is stored in a secure laboratory for about 2 years.
    • This allows for additional testing if needed.
    • It also helps laboratories maintain quality control and accuracy.
  • After that period, cards are securely stored indefinitely, under strict state regulations.

You may be given the option to allow your baby’s de‑identified (non‑identifiable) sample to be used for approved health research, such as:

  • Developing new newborn screening tests
  • Establishing normal values for new conditions

All research projects must be approved by an ethics committee and follow state and federal privacy laws.

If you have questions about storage or research use, your baby’s care team or the Kent County Health Department in Grand Rapids can provide more information.

Support After Newborn Screening

A positive screening result or a confirmed diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Families in Grand Rapids have access to multiple support resources.

Genetic Counselling

If your child is diagnosed with a genetic or metabolic condition, speaking with a genetic counsellor can be very helpful. Genetic counsellors:

  • Are trained in both genetics and counselling
  • Explain:
    • What the condition is
    • How it is inherited (if it is genetic)
    • What it may mean for your child’s health, growth, and development
    • What it may mean for future pregnancies and other family members
  • Provide emotional support and help you navigate treatment and follow‑up care

Counsellors are sensitive to your family circumstances, culture, and beliefs and can help coordinate care with your pediatrician and specialists.

Local and Statewide Resources for Grand Rapids Families

If your baby has an abnormal screening result or a confirmed diagnosis, you can seek help from:

  • Your GP or Family Doctor – for ongoing care and referrals
  • Your Baby’s Pediatrician – for monitoring growth, development, and treatment
  • Pediatric Specialists – at:
    • Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

You may also be referred to:

  • Michigan Clinical Genetics Services – (616) 555‑0400
  • Genetic Support Network of Michigan – (616) 555‑0200
  • Kent County Health Department – for local public health information and support
  • Grand Rapids Public Health resources – for community programs, education, and referrals

These organizations can help you understand your child’s condition, connect you with other families, and find financial and practical support.

Key Points for Grand Rapids Parents

  • Newborn bloodspot screening is offered to every baby in Grand Rapids and across Michigan.
  • Conditions detected are rare, but without early detection they can cause serious, lifelong health problems.
  • By the time symptoms appear, your baby’s development may already be affected.
  • The test involves a simple heel prick, which may cause brief discomfort, but holding or feeding your baby during the test can help.
  • In most cases, babies with detected conditions can receive treatment that greatly reduces the health impact.
  • Early detection and treatment help children grow, learn, and stay as healthy as possible, even in Michigan’s challenging winter months.

If you are expecting a baby in Grand Rapids or have recently delivered, talk with your healthcare team about newborn bloodspot screening and how it helps protect your baby’s future health.