minnesota newborn screening program

Parental Options

You have options in newborn screening.
Please discuss the following options with your health care provider.

You have the option to not receive the life-saving benefits of newborn screening, but the risks of not screening your baby are very serious.

Without screening, your baby could die or have permanent and severe health problems.

Opt-Out Form:
Refusal of Newborn Screening Form (PDF: 52KB/1 page)

If you refuse newborn screening, you must indicate your refusal in writing on the opt-out form from the Minnesota Department of Health. A copy of the form should be sent to the Newborn Screening Program and the original form should be kept in your child's medical chart with a copy given to you by the hospital staff.

The opt-out form documents that:

  • you were told the risks of not screening
  • you accept legal responsibility for any consequences (death or health problems) of not screening your baby

You have the option to still receive the benefits of newborn screening, but you may choose to have the screening results and the remaining blood specimen destroyed.

Directive to Destroy Form:
Directive to Destroy Form (PDF: 54KB/1 page)

With this choice your baby receives the health-saving benefits of newborn screening, but neither a permanent record of the test nor leftover blood are kept by MDH.

When MDH receives your request, the destruction of the blood sample will occur within 45 days and the results will be destroyed 24 months after the initial newborn screen took place. Asking that the newborn screening results and specimen be destroyed means that the results and specimen will no longer be available from MDH under any circumstances.

This form also allows you to request that a bloodspot and/or test results on children born between July 1, 1997 and November 15, 2011 be destroyed. We do not have bloodspots on children born prior to July 1, 1997.

Please note that it is a Federal requirement that we maintain newborn screening results on children for 24 months. If you are completing this form and your child is not yet 24 months of age, we will destroy their newborn screening results after 24 months and you will be notified when that occurs.

You have the option to still receive the benefits of newborn screening, but you may choose to have the screening done through private testing.

Private Testing:
You may arrange for private testing for newborn screening. Discuss this option with your health care provider.

Updated Wednesday, 25-Jan-2012 09:40:42 CST