The heel prick test in Ireland

These answers come from the HSE heel prick screening pages, checked on 2 November 2026.

What is the heel prick test?

The heel prick test, also called newborn bloodspot screening, is offered to every baby in Ireland. It screens for 11 rare but serious conditions. The test is free and 99.9% of parents in Ireland agree to have their babies screened. A midwife or public health nurse takes the sample, in hospital or at home.

When is the heel prick test done?

The heel prick is usually done when your baby is 3 to 5 days old, and the HSE advises not leaving it past 5 days old. It waits until your baby has been feeding for a few days, because earlier results may not be accurate. It is done in hospital if you are still there, otherwise usually at home.

At your baby's 6 week check the GP asks whether the heel prick was done. The HSE health checks page lists the other early checks. A doctor or specialist midwife does the full newborn clinical examination within 72 hours of birth, usually in hospital before you go home, and the hearing screen is part of it. The heel prick follows during the first week.

How is the heel prick done?

A midwife or PHN takes a few drops of blood from your baby's heel with a lancet and collects them on a newborn bloodspot screening card. The HSE says to keep your baby warm and comfortable, and to be ready to feed or cuddle them.

If you can, put two pairs of socks on your baby's feet during the hour before the test.

What conditions does the heel prick screen for?

The heel prick screens for 11 rare but serious conditions. The card goes to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory, which tests for all of them. The screen includes a genetic test for spinal muscular atrophy and may include one for cystic fibrosis. If the first results suggest a cystic fibrosis risk, the lab runs a follow-on genetic test.

• Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID)
• Classical Galactosaemia
• Congenital hypothyroidism (CHT)
• Cystic fibrosis (CF)
• Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1)
• Homocystinuria (HCU)
• Maple syrup urine disease
• Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD)
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
• Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Do I have to consent, and can I say no?

Your midwife or PHN gives you information and a leaflet, then asks you to consent on your baby's behalf. Only a legal guardian can consent, by signing the card, or verbally or by making a mark on it in front of the midwife or PHN. If you decline, you sign an opt-out form confirming you understand the risks.

The birth mother is a legal guardian, and so is a married father. A female partner in a same-sex couple may be one in some circumstances, and most other partners are not. If you are unsure whether you can consent, ask the healthcare professional taking the sample.

The HSE recommends screening because early detection means treatment can start sooner. If you decline, you can still arrange screening through your local PHN or GP until your baby is 12 months old.

When and how do I get the heel prick results?

Babies with a normal result are not contacted, so you can ask your PHN for the result. Most babies get a normal result. If a result is positive, a nurse or doctor contacts you, usually a few days after your midwife or PHN sends the blood sample to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory.

What does a positive heel prick result mean?

A positive result means your baby may be at risk of one of the conditions. It is not a diagnosis. Further diagnostic tests confirm or rule out the condition, and your baby may need to stay in hospital during this time. If it is confirmed, your baby is referred to a specialist centre.

At the specialist centre a team works with you on managing the condition. If the diagnostic tests show no condition, this is called a false positive. Screening has limits and may miss some cases, and a later diagnosis of a condition the test missed is a false negative, which is very rare.

False positives and false negatives occur in every screening programme. The HSE works to keep them to a minimum. If you have concerns about your baby's health, contact your GP.

Why might my baby need a second heel prick?

Sometimes a second heel prick is needed. The HSE gives two reasons for this: there was not enough blood on the first newborn bloodspot screening card, or the results are unclear. The first sample is usually taken when babies are 3 to 5 days old.

What happens to the blood spot card afterwards?

The card goes to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory, which tests for the 11 conditions. The lab keeps the card secure for 10 years, then disposes of it. The samples are anonymised and never used commercially, and the data is stored securely.

• The card may be used to check results and for quality assurance.
• It may be used for research, in anonymised form.
• It may be used for other tests your doctor recommends, with your consent.
• It may be used to validate new conditions added to the programme in future.

Lullagram's baby tracker logs feeds, nappies, sleep and weights, so the PHN visits and GP checks are easy to talk through. It is free for 7 days, then 4.99 euro a month for the household. This is general information from the HSE, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP or HSE Live on 1800 700 700.