Wisconsin Newborn Screening Laboratory
Helping babies get started on the right foot
The Newborn Screening (NBS) Program screens infants born in Wisconsin for 48 disorders, hearing loss, and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD).
X-ALD and MPS I added to Wisconsin newborn screening
(July 15, 2025)
X-ALD and MPS I have been added to the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Program’s panel of conditions (PDF) effective August 1, 2025. This means that every infant born in Wisconsin is required to be screened for X-ALD and MPS I within 24-48 hours after birth.
X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) Newborn Screening Demonstration Project – ending July 31, 2025
(Updated July 15, 2025)
In September 2023 with CDC funding support, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, in conjunction with several pediatric metabolic and neurology specialists in the state, began an 18-month demonstration project for newborn screening for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). At that time, the state Administrative Rule-making process to add X-ALD to the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Panel had started. In April 2025, the demonstration project was extended for another 6 months since the rule-making process was still ongoing.
With the issuance of the administrative rule and expected implementation date of August 1, 2025, the demonstration project will end effective July 31, 2025.
The Information for Primary Care Providers and Information for Parents links below are still accurate.If you have any questions, please call (608) 262-6547.
NBS Test Results Prior to March 1, 2012 are No Longer Available
Due to the sunsetting of a 30-year-old laboratory information system, we are no longer able to access newborn screening results for tests performed prior to March 1, 2012. As a reminder, at the time when newborn screening was completed, newborn screening results were sent to the submitter (birth hospital, midwife, birthing attendant).
NBS Courier Service Information
The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) has contracted with Purple Mountain Solutions – dba Gold Cross – to transport Newborn Screening specimens to the WSLH (465 Henry Mall, Madison, WI) for testing.
Place orders at: http://www.purplemountain.e-courier.com
Online ordering how-to’s quick sheet
Online ordering visual examples
Purple Mountain Solutions picks up Newborn Screening specimens Monday – Saturday and delivers them to the WSLH for testing Monday – Saturday. All orders placed before noon will be picked up the same day. All pickup requests placed after noon will be picked up the following day.
If your facility also sends non-Newborn Screening specimens to the WSLH for testing (i.e. Communicable Disease) you should continue your current practices for arranging transport of those specimens.
If you have questions, please call the WSLH Newborn Screening lab at 608-262-6547. If you need shipping supplies (WSLH – Newborn Screening envelopes and transparent sleeves) please call Purple Mountain Solutions – dba Gold Cross at 715-839-9989.
The Wisconsin Newborn Screening website is dedicated to promoting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, communication and resources with healthcare agencies, families, and anyone else interested in NBS for the benefit of babies born in Wisconsin.
For more information on:
- Newborn blood screening, please call the Newborn
Screening Laboratory at 608-262-6547.
- Hearing screening, please call the Wisconsin
Department of Health Services (DHS) at 608-267-9188.
- Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening,
please call SHINE personnel at 608-265-1894.
- How quickly hospitals send specimen cards to the Newborn Screening Laboratory, please see this report or visit the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s CheckPoint
Birth Measures Report for this data and additional quality indicators.
- Provide contact information for your NBS Site Liaison
- Learn more with our Continuing Education interactive training webinars
♦ For Parents ♦