Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 42

The best specimen for early newborn screening is a:

A. Timed urine specimen

B. Blood specimen

C. First morning urine specimen

D. Fecal specimen

Step 1 of 2

Newborn screening test:

Newborns are monitored for inborn error of metabolism (IEM).

• Screening of newborns has elevated for including sensitive methods of detection and elevating levels of state-mandated test for inborn errors of metabolism.

• Currently many states require 30 and above metabolic disorder testing.

• These disorders make building up of un-metabolized toxic food substances.

• These substances rapidly elevate in blood than urine.

• Through heel puncture, blood is collected in infant and tested initially.

• Mass spectrophotometry (MS/MS) is used to screen infant blood sample.

Therefore, “blood specimen” is the best specimen for screening of new born. Hence, the correct answer is option.