Writing Resources
Newborn screening NBS is the most widely used form of genetic testing in the U S and is mandated by individual states Anderson Rothwell Botkin 2011 Shortly after birth each infant's heel is pricked to draw blood for NBS This heel prick is usually performed by a nurse or a phlebotomist who then places the blood on a specimen card and submits the card to the appropriate laboratory Riley 2012 NBS is done during the first few days of life in order to screen infants for certain disorders that with treatment or lifestyle changes can have decreased morbidity and improved mortality Anderson et al 2011 NBS began in the 1960s when Robert Guthrie a microbiologist designed the heel stick blood test to screen for phenylketonuria PKU which causes irreversible intellectual disability if not controlled with a restrictive diet
