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Oregon Health Authority

Newborn Screening Program Updates

Sign Up to Receive Program Updates

To more efficiently communicate with all clients, the Oregon Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program is collecting email addresses for the facilities and providers that submit specimens to our laboratory. This list is intended to share program information and updates, not laboratory results. To sign up, complete our brief online form.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division, Oregon State Public Health Laboratory, Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program (NWRNBS Program) is proposing permanent amendments (changes) to Oregon Administrative Rules chapter 333, division 24. OHA is inviting public comment on the proposed rules. Final rules will be filed after consideration of all comments.

Please review the documents below for more information:
You are invited to review and comment on the proposed rules. You have three (3) options to provide comment:
  • Oral (spoken) testimony during a public hearing:
    • October 15, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. PDT via video/phone conference using Microsoft Teams.  
    • To provide oral testimony during this hearing: 
      • Join using the Meeting URL. 
      • You can also find the join link for the meeting in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under "Remote Meeting Details" using the “Meeting URL."
      • You may also contact the Rules Coordinator at publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov to sign-up to give oral testimony and receive the link for the Microsoft Teams video conference via calendar appointment.  
    • For audio (listen) only, you may dial 971-277-2343, phone conference ID 995 490 680#.
  • Written comments are due before 5:00 P.M. PDT on October 21, 2024:
    • Email to: Public Health Division Rules Coordinator at publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov.    
    • Regular mail must be postmarked by 5:00 P.M. PDT on October 21, 2024. 
      • Mail comments to: OHA, Public Health Division / Brittany Hall, Administrative Rules Coordinator / 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 930 / Portland, Oregon 97232
  • Fax: Send comments to (971) 673-1299.

Laboratory Data Systems Replacement Project

Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) operates using multiple legacy laboratory information management systems (LIMS). To improve laboratory work flows and services for clients, OSPHL has undertaken the large project to identify and implement the best possible LIMS available for our lab. At this time, we anticipate system implementation will occur sometime in 2025. For more information about the project and how it may affect your work with us, please visit our OSPHL Data Improvement Projects website.

Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program Notices

New Newborn Bloodspot Screening Cards Coming in 2025!
The Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program plans to roll out an updated specimen collection card in early 2025. The updated card has been redesigned to be more user friendly and improve data collection. Please review our first provider announcement (pdf) for additional details.


Updated Screening Guidelines - Effective May 20, 2024

The Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program has updated the specimen collection guidelines for babies who are delivered early or have low birth weight. These changes are being made to align specimen collection with best practices published by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Guidelines.

Complete information can be found in our letter to medical providers (pdf) and on our medical providers website. Please contact us with questions. 


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