The infant’s results have arrived but the infant’s demographic information is incorrect. What should I do?

I have received a request for a repeat sample on an infant who has been discharged from the hospital. Whose responsibility is it to ensure that the infant has a repeat NBS?

Who is responsible for sending the infant’s newborn screening results to the infant’s pediatrician/family physician?

What is the turn around time for NBS reports?

We received a report indicating that an infant has screened positive for a disease. What is our responsility as the submitting health care provider?

A baby under my care has screened positive for a condition. Will the baby's personal health information be shared with other health care providers?

It has been several weeks since I sent in a NBS sample and I have not received a report. What should I do?

The infant’s results have arrived but the infant’s demographic information is incorrect. What should I do?

Please call the NSO office (613-738-3222 option 0) to inform us of incorrect demographic information (for example: incorrect gender, wrong health card number, wrong date of birth/sample collection, etc.). If necessary, we can issue an amended report with the correct information for you.

I have received a request for a repeat sample on an infant who has been discharged from the hospital. Whose responsibility is it to ensure that the infant has a repeat NBS?

It is the responsibility of the original submitter to inform the family that a repeat sample is required and provide the family with information so that they may have the repeat NBS taken.

Who is responsible for sending the infant’s newborn screening results to the infant’s pediatrician/family physician?

This is the responsibility of the submitting health care provider. At this time, NSO reports results to the submitting health care provider only.

What is the turn around time for NBS reports?

NSO aims to have reports for every baby within three business days of the sample receipt.

We received a report indicating that an infant has screened positive for a disease. What is the submitting health care provider's responsibility?

It should clearly indicate (in red) on the NBS report that NSO physicians have referred the baby with the screen positive result to physicians at a specified regional treatment centre, who are responsible for further diagnostic evaluation of the infant, for initiation of treatment if indicated, and for reporting the outcome of the diagnostic evaluation to the referring physician at NSO. In general, no further follow-up on your part is required. If you have any concerns, or if the follow-up plans noted are unclear, please contact the NSO office at 613-738-3222 option 0.

A baby under my care has screened positive for a disease. Will the baby's personal health information be shared with other health care providers?

NSO physicians will refer the baby to physicians at a regional treatment centre for follow-up diagnostic testing. In some cases, NSO staff work directly with health care providers and families to arrange testing. The treatment centre physicians will provide the referring physician at NSO with follow-up information about the baby, as is the case for any medical referral. This includes medical information, which tests were done, the results of those tests, and whether or not the baby truly has the disease (for an example of a Diagnostic Evaluation Form, please click here.

This feedback allows NSO to make sure that every baby receives appropriate and timely care. The information from the evaluation form will be used to make sure that NSO provides the best possible service to all babies born in Ontario. NSO health care providers review this information and may contact the baby's family, health care provider, or the physicians at the regional treatment centre if we have questions about the baby's care. Parents/guardians may choose not to have their baby's health information shared. In this case, they should be encouraged to discuss this with their health care provider or contact NSO.

It has been several weeks since I sent in a NBS sample and I have not received a report. What should I do?

Please call the NSO office at 613-738-3222 option 0, and we would be happy to look into this for you.