(b) Timing of specimen collection.

1. (1)

   1. (A) For all healthy infants born in medical facilities, the specimen shall be collected before the time of discharge from the facility.
   2. (B) Optimum time for collection is twenty-four (24) to seventy-two (72) hours after birth, and all collectors should strive to comply with that time frame.
   3. (C) If any infant is discharged or specimen collected prior to twenty-four (24) hours of age, a repeat test shall be arranged by the medical facility and the attending physician.
   4. (D) This repeat specimen shall be collected by the infant’s seventh day of life.
   5. (E) A repeat test for sickle cell disease shall not be required if specimen was collected prior to twenty-four (24) hours of age.
2. (2) Specimens from ill or premature infants shall be obtained as soon as possible after their condition has sufficiently stabilized.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Specimens from infants not born in medical facilities shall be collected between twenty-four (24) and seventy-two (72) hours after birth.
   2. (B) Infants under six (6) months of age who are known to be untested or inadequately tested shall have blood specimens collected and submitted by the responsible authority as soon as possible.

(c) Specimen collection and submission.

1. (1) Specimens shall be dispatched to the Department of Health Public Health Laboratory, Little Rock, Arkansas, no later than one (1) business day from collection.
2. (2) Specimens are submitted only on forms provided by the Public Health Laboratory.
3. (3) The collector is responsible for supplying complete and accurate identifying information on the collection form to be used for tracking infants with abnormal screening results.

(d) Forms.

1. (1) Submission. Forms may be obtained by writing to the Public Health Laboratory at: Arkansas Department of Health Public Health Laboratory 201 South Monroe Street Little Rock, AR 72205
2. (2) The county health units will not supply these forms.

(e) Unsatisfactory specimens.

1. (1) Inadequate, contaminated, or otherwise unusable specimens shall be reported to the collector after laboratory determination of an unsatisfactory specimen.
2. (2) The collector shall be responsible for ensuring recollection and resubmission within seven (7) calendar days of notification.