1. (a) The blood specimen is to be obtained after 24 hours of age and before 48 hours of age. If the newborn is discharged from the hospital or birthing facility before the above criteria are met, the blood specimen must be obtained immediately prior to discharge. A second blood specimen is to be collected between one and two weeks of age by the newborn's physician or health care practitioner in accordance with §37.55 of this title (relating to Responsibilities of Providers and Parent, Managing Conservator, or Guardian). If program data demonstrate to the agency's satisfaction that the second screen is no longer necessary as a method of detecting false negative results from the first screen, the commissioner may discontinue the requirement for submission of the second screen. The commissioner's decision shall be announced through means deemed appropriate by the commissioner to notify physicians, health care practitioners, providers, and other interested persons. Prior to the effective date of the announced change, the agency's newborn screening educational information will be revised to reflect the deletion of the second screen requirement.
2. (b) A repeat blood specimen, which may or may not be the second screen, shall be obtained as instructed by the Newborn Screening Program to verify results or if the initial blood specimen was unsatisfactory.
3. (c) Transfusions can cause invalid results. The first screen should be collected prior to the first transfusion if possible. Transfused newborns must be retested two to four weeks following transfusion.

Source Note:The provisions of this §37.56 adopted to be effective November 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 8835.