Medical Encyclopedia

Phenylketonuria test

Blood is routinely drawn from newborn infants for testing. Blood is obtained by "heel stick" and collected on a special blotter paper. Routine testing usually includes phenylketonuria, thyroid function, hemoglobin S (sickle cell disease), and may test for other disorders. Newborn screening programs vary from state to state. Testing can be tailored to the local population, determining what routine testing should be done.