1. (a) Optimally, the blood specimen is to be obtained after 36 hours of age and 24 hours after the first protein feeding. If the newborn is discharged from the hospital or birthing center before the above criteria are met, the specimen must be obtained immediately prior to discharge. A second specimen is to be collected between one and two weeks of age.
2. (b) Premature or sick newborns may have the initial screen as late as seven days of age. The second screen on premature or sick newborns is to be done at hospital discharge, one month of age, when the newborn attains a weight of 2,500 grams, or whenever requested to do so by the Newborn Screening Program (program), whichever comes first.
3. (c) Newborns delivered outside of hospitals or birthing centers, e.g., home deliveries, must be screened within the first 72 hours of life. The second screen must be done between one and two weeks of age.
4. (d) Screening for all conditions will be performed from a single filter paper specimen.
5. (e) Antibiotic treatment or transfusions can cause invalid results. Transfused newborns must be retested two-four weeks following transfusion. Newborns receiving antibiotics should be retested when they are no longer on therapy, and sufficient time has elapsed for the antibiotic to be cleaned from the bloodstream.

Source Note:The provisions of this §37.56 adopted to be effective February 2, 1989, 13 TexReg 6268; amended to be effective May 16, 1994, 19 TexReg 3369.