Newborn Screening Program
Today, newborns in Wisconsin are screened, or checked, for:
Most newborns are screened within the first days of life. The goal of the Wisconsin Newborn Screening program is to make sure that all Wisconsin newborns are screened, diagnosed, and treated for certain conditions.
The program is a partnership between Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Wisconsin State of Laboratory Hygiene. It relies on a Newborn Screening Advisory Group. Members include public health professionals, health care providers, and parents.
WETRAC
Wisconsin uses a database system called WETRAC for birth providers and audiologists to follow up on missing hearing screening and heart screening results. We want birth providers to send in the blood spot card as soon as the blood spots are dried and ready, without any delay for conducting the hearing or heart screenings. To update cases that need hearing or heart screening follow-up, please navigate to WETRAC.
Data request process
To request de-identified data from the Wisconsin Newborn Screening program, complete the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Data Request form. You will be able to save the survey and return later. Once submitted, your request will be reviewed by the newborn screening team, and a determination will be made on whether your request can be filled.
Wisconsin newborn screening announcements
The Newborn Screening Program is excited to share new fact sheets. The fact sheets offer an overview of screening and easily explain the details of hearing, heart, and blood screening in English, Spanish, or Hmong. Caregivers, give these to families during the prenatal period and discuss the value of newborn screening. Hand these out during prenatal visits, leave them in waiting and exam rooms, and share them electronically. Use the form, Forms / Publications Order F-80025a, to have print copies shipped to you.
X-ALD and MPS I have been added to the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Program’s panel of conditions (PDF) effective August 1, 2025. This means that every infant born in Wisconsin is required to be screened for X-ALD and MPS I within 24-48 hours after birth.
Resources
These resources are for parents or caregivers and providers. They have accurate information about newborn screening. Select a link to learn more.
- Baby's First Test, provides information for families and providers about newborn screening.
- The Newborn Screening Story: How One Simple Test Changed Lives, Science, and Health in America (PDF), outlines 50 years of newborn screening in the U.S. The booklet is from the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
- The Parent's Guide to Newborn Screening, answers common questions about newborn screening in Wisconsin. This guide is from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.
- Save Babies Through Screening Foundation, leads advocacy and media awareness about newborn screening. They work at local, state, and federal levels.
- Wisconsin Newborn Screening Laboratory, promotes and encourages sharing information about newborn screening. This work helps babies born in Wisconsin.
- SHINE, helps provide universal screening for critical congenital heart disease. The pilot project is through the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the State of Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, supports and promotes newborn hearing screenings and follow-up.
Newborn screening FAQs (frequently asked questions)
Expand each question to learn more about newborn screening in Wisconsin.
Newborn screening is the process of testing babies for conditions within the first days of life. Watch the video from Family Voices of Wisconsin to learn more.
In Wisconsin, newborn screening is required by law, Wis. Stat. § 253.13, Tests for Congenital Disorders and Wis. Stat. § 253.115, Newborn Hearing Screening. This law requires that all babies born in hospitals in Wisconsin have newborn screening before they leave the hospital. Babies born at home must be tested within a week of birth. Ideally within the first days of life. It protects the health of babies.
Newborn screening can save lives by finding babies with “hidden disorders.” These are conditions that you can’t see just by looking at your baby. Screening also helps:
- Get babies early treatment, if needed. Early treatment can prevent health problems, long-term damage, and even death.
- Inform families, so they can plan for their baby’s needs.
- Allow providers and families time to find the right specialists.
Most disorders found through newborn screening are genetic. Knowing about genetics can help make sense of why newborn screening is important. Watch the video from Family Voices of Wisconsin to learn more.
Each type of newborn screening has a different method:
- Blood screening—A few drops of blood from the baby’s heel are put on a special paper. This is sent to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene for testing.
- Hearing screening—Accurate and gentle methods are used to check the baby’s hearing before they leave the hospital. Often, hearing is screened while the baby rests.
- Critical congenital heart disease screening—A sensor (called a pulse oximeter) is placed near the foot or hand. It checks how much oxygen is in the blood.
Make sure your baby is tested in the first days of life.
Leave your correct address and phone number with your care team and your baby's doctor. If you do not have a phone, leave the number of a friend or relative who can find you.
If your baby's doctor asks you to bring your baby back to repeat the newborn screening test or for further testing, do so as soon as possible. It is important that testing be done right away.
Sometimes, a newborn screening has abnormal results. This doesn’t mean your baby has a disorder. The screening helps find babies who may be at risk for a disorder. Your baby will likely need to be re-screened. Watch the video from Family Voices of Wisconsin to learn more.
Parents or caregivers may refuse newborn screening for their baby. This is only allowed if religious beliefs and practices or personal views do not allow this testing.
If you refuse newborn screening, you may be asked to sign a paper. The paper states that you refused to have your baby tested for these serious disorders.
Wisconsin Newborn Screening Laboratory is dedicated to promoting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, communication and resources with health care agencies, families, and anyone else interested in NBS for the benefit of babies born in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Screening Hearts in Newborns (SHINE) Project is a pilot project through the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the State of Wisconsin designed to implement universal screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD).
Wisconsin Sound Beginnings promotes and supports universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and follow- up services statewide
Baby's First Test has information for families and professionals on newborn screening.
Newborn Screening: Online Education has easy-to-understand, interactive tutorials from Heartland Regional Genetics and Newborn Screening Collaborative help families to learn about some conditions diagnosed through newborn screening.
The Newborn Screening Story: How One Simple Test Changed Lives, Science, and Health in America is an informative booklet from the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) chronicles 50 years of newborn screening in America.
The Parent's Guide to Newborn Screening has information on the basics of newborn screening from the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is a leader in the national grassroots advocacy movement and media awareness. They actively participates on local, state and federal levels to improve newborn screening.