Newborn Screening Program Information: Retention Practices

Blood spot specimen and blood spot test results

All blood spot specimens may be stored indefinitely as allowed by Minnesota Statute 144.125 unless parents/guardians have directed Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to destroy them. Current practice is to store dried blood spot specimens for five to six years.

All blood spot screening results may be stored indefinitely unless parents/guardians have directed MDH to destroy them. MDH does not have blood spot screening results prior to August 1, 2014.

Hearing screening and Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) screening test results

All hearing screening results may be stored for 18 years from the infant’s date of birth as allowed by Minnesota Statute 144.966 unless parents/guardians have directed MDH to destroy them.

All CCHD screening results may be stored indefinitely unless parents/guardians have directed MDH to destroy them.

Questions

If you have questions around retention practices, please contact the Newborn Screening program at health.newbornscreening@state.mn.us.