At a glance
CDC helps state newborn screening programs prepare for emergencies that could disrupt normal operations.
What to know
Newborn screening (NBS) is an essential public health activity where babies are screened for detectible and treatable conditions. Various emergencies might disrupt normal operations of hospitals, NBS laboratories, and follow-up services. These could include natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes or workplace emergencies such as a power outage or cyber terrorism. Even in an emergency, babies still need to be screened within 24-48 hours of birth to identify and treat affected newborns early.
NBS programs require a plan to quickly identify and reduce the effects of the emergency on hospital screening, laboratory operations, and follow-up activities.
With preparation, state NBS programs can handle different types of emergencies that threaten the health of babies and the resilience of families and communities.
Why should newborn screening programs prioritize emergency preparedness?
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed Louisiana's public health laboratory.[1] The state could not perform newborn blood spot screening for several weeks. This stopped routine screening, diagnosis, and follow-up for many babies.
That experience shows the need for a backup system, or contingency plan. A clear contingency plan helps keep NBS services running during a public health emergency.
[1] Logan MN, Yanni E, Hagar A, et. Al. Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Newborn Screening in Louisiana. Pediatrics 2007; 120(4): e749-e755.
A national contingency plan for newborn screening
The CDC created a national contingency plan (CONPLAN) for newborn screening with the following partners:
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)
- State departments of health
- Newborn screening experts from multiple organizations
The CONPLAN is a detailed document that gives organizations a clear framework to handle disruptions in the dried blood spot, critical congenital heart defects, and hearing newborn screening programs during an emergency. It organizes essential newborn screening tasks into nine key strategic objectives (see the flowchart). Because newborn screening is time-sensitive, the CONPLAN helps users:
- identify problems that could occur at each step, and
- decide how to respond quickly and effectively.
This makes it easier to keep NBS services working during an emergency.
Newborn Screening CONPLAN V3 Printables
How to use the CONPLAN to build a Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan
APHL presented two webinars to help state newborn screening programs prepare for emergency situations. The first one uses the CONPLAN to help states develop their own COOP. The second webinar helps states work with hospital systems to maintain newborn screening services from hospital to laboratory to follow-up. The webinars are free, but site registration may be required.
- Newborn Screening Continuity of Operations and Contingency Plans - APHL Learning Center (NBS COOP webinar part 1)
- Newborn Screening Continuity Operations and Contingency Plans, and Hospital Continuity of Operations Part Two | NewSTEPs (NBS COOP webinar part 2)
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