Heel blood collection is done at what time after birth?

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This article is professionally consulted by Master, Resident Doctor Dang Thi Ngoan - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.
Heel blood collection is part of the newborn screening program for babies to early detect endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders that affect children's health, physical and mental development. Especially dangerous diseases that are difficult to detect clinically at birth.

1. The right time to take heel blood for testing for children

Newborn screening is done when your baby is about 24-72 hours old. It is best from 48 - 72 hours old or can last for 7 days after birth.. The appropriate time to draw blood will vary in babies depending on whether the baby is born at full term or not.
In case of premature, low birth weight babies will be done within 20 days after birth. Children receiving blood transfusion after birth will be tested after 3 months.

2. Is it dangerous to take blood from the heel?

The implementation of postpartum screening, taking blood from the heel is not dangerous for the baby, the cost is not too expensive and brings great efficiency.

3. Illnesses in babies that can be detected by blood tests

Vinmec system performs venous blood test. Diagnosing 3 congenital metabolic disorders with high rate, can be treated early and prevented from affecting the child's development.
The test is taken at 72 hours of age or older and can be done throughout the neonatal period.
3.1 GPD deficiency GPD deficiency is a condition in which your child cannot synthesize G6PD enzyme (located in red blood cells) like other normal children. In the absence of GPD enzyme, cells cannot convert harmful products into harmless products, these harmful products will accumulate in red blood cells, making red blood cells fragile. Therefore, early detection of the disease will help monitor neonatal jaundice and help children limit acute hemolysis leading to anemia and jaundice.

3.2 Congenital hypothyroidism Congenital hypothyroidism is a thyroid disease in which a child does not produce or produces less hormones than normal. A lack of thyroid hormone will make the brain and body unable to develop, leading to the child being dull and short. Therefore, testing for early detection and adequate treatment of thyroid hormone within the first 2 weeks after birth will help children develop normally.
3.3 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a neonatal endocrine dysfunction disorder. The disease presents as fatal salt loss and gender ambiguity in girls. Timely detection of the disease will help children avoid death and minimize the masculinization of the external genitalia that causes gender confusion in girls.
Newborn screening with heel spurs is included in the Maternity Packages. Customers who register for Maternity Package at Vinmec will be fully tested, prenatal care - during and after birth for both mother and baby. In addition, the hospital still provides newborn screening service for customers who are not registered to give birth at Vinmec but have a need.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Doctor Dang Thi Ngoan used to be a lecturer in the Department of Pediatrics - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Having been granted certificates in Pediatrics at home and abroad such as: Westmead Hospital, Australia; Hai Phong Medical University. Currently, Doctor Ngoan is a pediatrician - neonatologist at the Department of Neonatology at Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.

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