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Screening & Surveillance
Regulation Revision Suggestions Survey
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)'s Bureau of Family Heath (BFH) is home to several regulatory programs. State regulatory programs are designed to protect and preserve the public’s health, safety, and well-being. Agencies are given authority through law to establish regulations that describe how laws are to be implemented. Maintaining an effective regulatory program greatly reduces the risk of harm to the people of Kansas and our resources.
Receiving feedback on program regulations is critical to the regulatory review process and community participation. The survey allows members of regulated communities and the public to offer feedback on KDHE BFH regulations.
Thank you for sharing your voice as we move forward together to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Kansas families. Share your feedback today.
Office Hour Zoom Meetings
Do you have questions about the Kansas Newborn Screening program? Or maybe you have questions for a laboratory expert? If so, join us on Zoom every Wednesday between 1 pm and 2 pm so you can ask any questions related to the Kansas Newborn Screening program. There is no need to sign up for any of these meetings as they are an "open door" event. See you soon! Join the Wednesday meeting.
Guidance, Forms & Resources
Guidance on Rescreens
Our team has seen an increase in the number of required rescreens, as well as some delays in the timeliness of getting rescreens completed. Additionally, feedback from our COVID-19 Facility Survey indicates that several facilities and providers are encountering family resistance to making repeat visits for recollections. In response, we have drafted the following guidance for physicians, birthing facilities, and families. Share this guidance with your colleagues. Share the family guidance with patient families early and often.
If you have any questions and concerns, you can reach out to our Follow-Up Program Manager, Shawn Manos.
Newborn Screening Filter Paper Form
Newborn screening filter paper forms can be ordered by emailing or faxing a completed order form (PDF) to the Kansas Department of Health and Environmental Laboratories' Customer Service department. See the Instructions for Completing Filter Paper Order Form (PDF).
Report Request Form
Use the Report Request Form (PDF) to request additional copies of laboratory reports. One form is required for each patient. The form must be signed, dated, and sent to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any changes will be made to the current laboratory report delivery method. Submit the form to the contact listed at the bottom of the form.
Request Brochures for Your Facility
Kansas Newborn Screening Program brochures are available for your facility. To request brochures, as well as other Newborn Screening educational resources, please email our Newborn Screening Educator.
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Newborn Screening is a Public Health Service
The Kansas newborn screening program is a collaborative effort between public health, hospitals, providers and the parents of the infants screened. Screening is a public health service. Since 1965, it has been available to all infants in Kansas and it is done shortly after birth.
Some diseases aren't visible, and unless these diseases are identified and treated early, they can cause severe illness, developmental disability, or in some cases death. To test for these diseases, a baby's heel is pricked and a small sample of blood is collected by the hospital staff about 24 hours after birth. This blood is then sent to the State public health laboratory where it is tested for several different diseases. If the test is abnormal, re-testing must be done to confirm a diagnosis.
State public health staff are available to notify and assist both providers and parents with the next steps. Most infants with abnormal newborn screening results have normal re-testing. Initial results can be abnormal because the blood was drawn too early, the baby is premature, and many other reasons. When the first screening test indicates a problem may be present, a second screening test is done to determine whether or not the infant needs to have diagnostic testing done. If a baby truly has a disease, a system of providers is available to assist the family with immediate treatment.
Kansas newborns are currently screened for 32 conditions recommended by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Screening - About 40,000 KS births/initial tests each year with about 2,000 needing retest
- Follow-up - Appropriate health care providers are notified and staff track to assure retesting
- Diagnosis - Newborns with positive screens see medical specialists for a final determination
- Management - Families and their infants receive ongoing care through a medical team
- Education - Information and education are available to families and to providers
- Evaluation - Advisory council oversees program/systems to ensure effectiveness/efficiency
- The Importance of Timeliness
- Thank You for What You Do