OAR 333-024-1000: Newborn Screening: Purpose

(1) Newborn screening identifies conditions and diseases that may not be clinically evident in the first few days or weeks of an infant’s life but can affect an infant’s long-term health or survival. If these conditions are detected early, they can be diagnosed, and appropriate intervention can prevent death or lessen or prevent disability. In Oregon, all infants are required to be screened, except for those whose parent or legal guardian opt out because of their religious or philosophical beliefs. The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory performs this newborn screening testing and provides the results to those designated on the testing form as responsible for the health and medical care of the infant so that they can undertake the necessary confirmatory diagnostic testing and medical follow-up. To obtain more information about Newborn Bloodspot Screening go to www.healthoregon.org/nbs. (2) These rules do not apply to newborn hearing screening, congenital heart defect screening, or other "point of care" newborn screening tests.