Question
What is the purpose of collecting three drops of blood from a newborn’s foot?
Answer
The three-drop blood test on a newborn’s foot is primarily conducted as a newborn screening to detect congenital metabolic diseases that may severely impact children’s life safety, growth, and particularly brain development. Through early diagnosis and treatment, these diseases can be prevented from causing irreversible damage to important organs, especially the brain, and ensure children’s normal physical and intellectual development. Currently, this screening can help in early detection and treatment of serious conditions such as congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, galactosemia, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.