16 Del. Admin. Code § 4107-6.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025

Section 4107-6.0 - Timing of Collecting the Blood Spot Specimen and Pulse Oximetry Screening for Screening Infants By Hospitals, Birth Centers or Midwives

6.1 A blood spot specimen for screening for metabolic, hematologic, and endocrinologic disorders shall be collected by the hospital, birth center, or midwife by 72 hours of age regardless of feeding history or medical condition unless the newborn falls into one of the following categories:

6.1.1 For infants born inside or outside of a hospital or other health care facility, or infants born outside of a hospital or other health care facility and transferred to the hospital for continuing care prior to 48 hours of age, the hospital to which the newborn child has been transferred shall collect a specimen from the newborn child, regardless of feeding history or medical condition, as close to arrival as possible.

6.1.2 For pre-term or sick newborns, the initial blood spot specimen shall be collected between 24 and 48 hours after birth. The specimen may be collected prior to 24 hours of age if the infant is receiving blood products. If the first specimen is collected prior to 24 hours of age, a second specimen shall be collected at 8 - 10 days of age or prior to discharge, whichever occurs first. For infants weighing less than 1800 grams at birth, a second specimen shall be collected at 28 days of life or prior to discharge, whichever comes first.

6.1.3 For infants discharged from a hospital or other health care facility before 24 hours of age, a blood spot specimen shall be obtained immediately prior to discharge from the facility and a second dried blood spot specimen shall be obtained after 3 days of age and before 14 days of age.

6.2 Birth facilities or care providers responsible for screening newborns shall adopt protocols consistent with the scientific statement regarding the role of pulse oximetry from the American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics (Pediatrics, 2012: 129 (1) pp. 190-192).

6.3 The data elements to be reported for pulse oximetry screening of newborns to the Division of Public Health are:

6.3.1 The number of births in a birthing facility each month;

6.3.2 The number of pulse oximetry screenings on newborn infants performed each month;

6.3.3 The number of positive and negative screens recorded;

6.3.4 For those infants who do not receive a screen, a reason for not being screened; and

6.3.5 The identity of the infants who fail the screen including their diagnostic evaluation and disposition.

16 Del. Admin. Code § 4107-6.0

16 DE Reg. 1182(5/1/2013)
23 DE Reg. 378( 11/1/2019) (Final)