Metabolic Screening Test For Your Newborn Baby

High Risk or Low Risk Results
When the sample has been analysed and results are available, one of the following will occur: Your baby’s result is negative for all the disorders. More than 99 per cent of the babies fall into this category. It means that your baby is at very low risk of having these disorders. The result will be filed into your baby’s medical record. On very rare occasions, a disorder may not be picked up on the metabolic screen.

A repeat sample is required.
A second sample is needed for about one in 100 babies. It is usually needed because the first sample showed borderline results, which means it was not possible to tell whether or not a problem exists.

You will be contacted to arrange for another sample to be taken.
Your baby’s result is positive for one of the conditions. Having a positive result does not necessarily mean that your baby has a disorder. It only means that further testing is needed. You will be contacted to make arrangements for a metabolic physician to review and investigate. If a diagnosis is made, your baby will be given appropriate treatment right away.

It is important to know that most babies in Singapore are screened negative. These rare but life threatening disorders can usually be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment.

Would you like to know more?
For more information about the metabolic screen in Singapore, speak to your healthcare provider, or call the National Expanded Newborn Screening Laboratory at 6394 5049.

You can also write to us at [email protected].

If you are delivering your baby at KKH or SGH, your baby will be screened. Please note that you have the right to refuse the metabolic screen. If this is your wish, please speak to your healthcare provider.

If you are delivering in a hospital other than KKH or SGH, please ask your healthcare provider for the test.