Theorical and practical bases for blood sample collection from the heel of newborns for neonatal screening

Abstract

Newborn screening (NBS) is a preventive study whose benefit has been established by solid scientific evidence. In most developed countries screening is done with 5 or 6 blood spots obtained by the puncture of the plantar surface of the infant’s heel with a sterile lancet, and collected in a special filter paper (Guthrie’s card). Despite its apparent simplicity, NBS laboratories commonly receive a large number of samples collected incorrectly and technically unsuitable for perfor4ming biochemical determinations. The aim of the present paper is to offer recommendations based on scientific evidence, for the properly blood collection on filter paper for NBS programs.

Keywords

• Tamiz neonatal
• sangre en papel filtro
• tarjeta de Guthrie
• toma de muestra
• talón