Question
Why do newborns need to undergo a heel prick test shortly after birth? What is the purpose of this test?
Answer
The heel prick test is a free screening program primarily used to detect if newborns have hypothyroidism or phenylketonuria. If these conditions are not diagnosed and treated promptly, they can severely impact the child’s intellectual development, and subsequent treatment can be complex and costly. Therefore, early testing allows for early diagnosis and treatment, thereby improving treatment outcomes. Parents can have this test performed at the hospital’s obstetric department where the newborn is born.