THE TEST
A heel prick at 5 days
A health professional pricks the baby's heel and collects a few drops of blood on a card, usually at 5 days old. The NHS says there are no known risks.
What it checks
WHAT THE NHS SAYS
A few drops,
ten conditions.
Many of the conditions it looks for run in families.
The newborn blood spot test, once called the heel prick test, checks for rare but serious conditions such as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. Finding them early means treatment can start sooner.
DAY 5 the usual test day
What results mean- Early test, early care
- Your choice to accept
- Results by 6 weeks
- The blood spot test in three lines
THE SHORT ANSWER
A quick test,
a long head start.
The test is recommended for all babies.
It is always the parents' choice.
THE RESULTS
Most babies: nothing found
Results arrive by 6 weeks. Most babies have no condition suspected; some are found to be carriers, and a few are referred to a specialist.
What results mean
THE GENOMES
100,000 babies sequenced
Genomics England's Generation Study, run with the NHS, is sequencing the genomes of 100,000 newborns to look for more than 200 rare treatable conditions.
See the numbersGeneral information only, not professional safety advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call the emergency services.
WHAT THE TEST LOOKS FOR
Rare, serious,
treatable.
The 10 conditions in England's newborn blood spot screening programme, as listed by NHS England.
Sickle cell disease
A group of conditions affecting red blood cells. It runs in families and mainly affects people of African or Caribbean background.
Cystic fibrosis
Causes problems with breathing, digestion and growth. Testing for it is unreliable after 8 weeks of age.
Congenital hypothyroidism
The baby does not make enough thyroid hormone, because the thyroid gland is not working well or has not developed.
7 inherited metabolic diseases
Including phenylketonuria (PKU) and MCADD: rare conditions affecting how the body breaks down substances in food. Parents can decline these only as a group.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Ten today,
two hundred in research.
The national programme in England,
and the research study testing a wider approach.
10
Conditions in the national blood spot programme
Sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, congenital hypothyroidism and 7 inherited metabolic diseases. NHS England added hereditary tyrosinaemia type 1 to its list in September 2025. Some areas also test for spinal muscular atrophy.
SCREENING · NHS ENGLAND
200+
Rare conditions in the Generation Study
Conditions that usually appear in the first years of life, can be improved if caught early and can be treated on the NHS in England.
RESEARCH · GENOMICS ENGLAND
The Generation Study is research: its results will inform future decisions on whether whole genome sequencing should support newborn screening.
A QUICK RESULTS CHECK
What does
this result mean?
Pick a possible result to see what the NHS says happens next. The bar shows how much follow-up is involved.
From the NHS page on the newborn blood spot test. If you have not had results by 6 weeks, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.
AFTER THE TEST
Where the card
goes next.
Blood spot cards are stored for at least 5 years. They may be used to check results, to improve how the test is done, and for anonymous research to improve the health of babies and families in the UK.
Tell your midwife or doctor as soon as possible if anyone related to your baby has one of the conditions checked for. Babies who missed the test can usually still have it up to their first birthday, apart from cystic fibrosis.
Questions
Questions people ask
What does the newborn blood spot test check for?
In England, 10 conditions: sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, congenital hypothyroidism and 7 inherited metabolic diseases. Spinal muscular atrophy is also tested for in some areas.
When is it done?
Usually when the baby is 5 days old, often at home by a community midwife or health visitor, though it can be done earlier or later.
Does it hurt or carry risks?
The NHS says the test is very quick and has no known risks, though the baby may cry or be uncomfortable. Feeding, cuddling and keeping them warm can help.
What if my baby is a carrier?
Carriers do not have the condition and are usually healthy, but could pass it on to their own children. They will not need treatment but may need further tests.
What is the Generation Study?
A Genomics England research study, run with the NHS, sequencing the genomes of 100,000 newborns to see whether genome sequencing can find more than 200 rare, treatable conditions earlier.
Sources
- NHS: Newborn blood spot test
- NHS England (GOV.UK): Newborn blood spot screening, programme overview
- Genomics England: Newborn Genomes Programme, the Generation Study
- Generation Study: study website
Updated