A newborn heel stick test is conducted 24-48 hours after the baby is born. Doctors take the help of hell stick tests to screen for possible severe health conditions in babies and analyze if any metabolic or hormone disorders persist. Symptoms of such conditions may not be visible during childbirth but can prove harmful and even life-threatening if not treated promptly. Conditions this test is used to screen for include: Congenital hypothyroidism, Maple syrup urine disease, Sickle cell anemia, and more.

If your baby was born alive in the state of North Carolina they most likely performed one of these screenings on your baby. If you would like to request the collection kit with your baby's blood possibly still on the collection kit, this post will walk you through how to request that for the state lab in North Carolina. This can then be used for a possible DNA sample or just to keep as a memory. The state lab keeps these kits for 5 years before they are discarded.

Instructions:

1. Access the NC DHHS website here
2. Download the HIPPA Authorization form in the "Patient Request Form to Obtain Completed Laboratory Results" section
3. Fill out the form. The purpose of disclosure can be something like "requesting for keepsakes, patient is deceased". In the "Description of Information to be used or disclosed" section, check the "Newborn Screening Collection Device" and the "Newborn Screening Dried Blood Spot" boxes. Make sure to include the date(s) they were done (likely on baby's birthday or 2nd day of life), and their Identifier/MR#/Sample# (if you requested your baby's entire medical record from the hospital it should be included in that record on a North Carolina State Laborary of Public Health Newborn Screening form. If you have that original record include it with your DHHS application as it will be helpful for staff to use to find your baby's collection kit)
4. Include in an email your completed, signed, and scanned HIPPA Authorization form and a scanned/photocopy of the front of driver's license (for mom or dad). Send email to Jennifer Tawes (jennifer.tawes@dhhs.nc.gov) with this information.
5. Your baby's collection kit, if retrievable, will be mailed to the address on the HIPPA form free of charge within a few weeks.