The Washington State Newborn Screening (NBS) program has performed millions of tests to identify babies with rare congenital conditions since 1963. We have experienced many successes through this statewide program, finding these conditions early and treating them quickly.
This page showcases experiences of parents and caregivers in our program and healthcare providers who help us save lives by getting specimens to our lab in a timely manner. Thank you for everything you do to help keep our youngest residents in Washington healthy and happy!
Caregiver Spotlight
Each year we test specimens from more than 80,000 newborns. In this family spotlight, we highlight the story of two families who used our NBS program for their babies. These videos tell the stories of Susan and Indie Mays and Lisa Greene.
Susan and Indie
Indie Mays' story about living with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)
Indie Mays was diagnosed with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), a condition where her body cannot process certain amino acids and requires a strict low-protein diet. Susan, Indie’s mother, shares the importance of the second screening. It was the second test that led Indie’s doctor to diagnosis her and provide her with early intervention and treatment.
Lisa
Lisa Greene's story about living with cystic fibrosis (CF)
In Lisa Greene’s story we hear about her children’s diagnosis with cystic fibrosis (CF). Lisa’s children were born before CF was added to the Washington State NBS screening panel in 2006. Lisa wishes she could have found out sooner to help with treatment planning.
Health Care Professionals Spotlight
Our health care professionals, including hospitals, birth centers, clinics, and midwives, do an excellent job on their transit and collection times for specimen cards. Quick transit and collection are critical for early detection and treatment as some disorders can be life threatening within the baby’s first week of life. In this provider spotlight, we recognize the important work these health care professionals do for the NBS program.
Top Submitters for Compliance
Birthing facilities and birth attendants must collect initial specimens no later than 48 hours following a baby’s birth. Our state laboratory should receive these specimens within 72 hours of collection, excluding days that the laboratory is closed (Sundays and Thanksgiving).
In Washington, our goal is that all facilities and birth attendants have a 100% rate for both on time initial screen and on time transit. Below are the birthing facilities that have the highest rates for on time initial screen and on time transit for this quarter.
|
Submitter ID |
Facility Name |
City |
Eligible Infants |
*On Time Initial Screen % |
**On Time Transit % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Submitter ID H0035 |
Facility Name St. Elizabeth Hospital |
City Enumclaw |
Eligible Infants 85 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 100.00% |
**On Time Transit % 100.00% |
|
Submitter ID H0211 |
Facility Name Swedish – Issaquah |
City Issaquah |
Eligible Infants 449 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 100.00% |
**On Time Transit % 97.33% |
|
Submitter ID H0130 |
Facility Name UW Medical Center – Northwest |
City Seattle |
Eligible Infants 488 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.80% |
**On Time Transit % 100.00% |
|
Submitter ID H0202 |
Facility Name St. Francis Hospital |
City Federal Way |
Eligible Infants 363 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.72% |
**On Time Transit % 99.17% |
|
Submitter ID H0058 |
Facility Name Yakima Memorial Hospital – MultiCare |
City Yakima |
Eligible Infants 596 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.66% |
**On Time Transit % 97.82% |
|
Submitter ID H0081 |
Facility Name Good Samaritan Hospital – MultiCare |
City Puyallup |
Eligible Infants 553 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.64% |
**On Time Transit % 99.28% |
|
Submitter ID H0131 |
Facility Name Overlake Medical Center |
City Bellevue |
Eligible Infants 884 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.55% |
**On Time Transit % 97.74% |
|
Submitter ID H0159 |
Facility Name Providence St. Peter Hospital |
City Olympia |
Eligible Infants 462 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.35% |
**On Time Transit % 97.62% |
|
Submitter ID H0164 |
Facility Name Evergreen Health Kirkland |
City Kirkland |
Eligible Infants 1,118 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.28% |
**On Time Transit % 99.02% |
|
Submitter ID H0001 |
Facility Name Swedish – First Hill |
City Seattle |
Eligible Infants 1,678 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.17% |
**On Time Transit % 98.51% |
|
Submitter ID H0142 |
Facility Name St. Michael Medical Center |
City Silverdale |
Eligible Infants 445 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 99.10% |
**On Time Transit % 98.88% |
|
Submitter ID H0032 |
Facility Name St. Joseph Medical Center – Tacoma |
City Tacoma |
Eligible Infants 994 |
*On Time Initial Screen % 98.79% |
**On Time Transit % 97.48% |
*Specimen Collection: Initial specimens are collected no later than 48 hours following birth.
**Transit Performance: Initial specimens must be received by State Laboratory within 72 hours of collection (excluding days that the laboratory is closed – Sundays and Thanksgiving.)
Top Submitters for Quality
In Washington, our aim is that all providers have a 0% error rate for both demographic information and unsatisfactory specimens. Below are the providers that have the lowest rates for demographic and unsatisfactory errors for this quarter.
|
Submitter ID |
Facility Name |
City |
Total Specimens |
*Demographic Error % |
**Unsatisfactory Error % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Submitter ID C1275 |
Facility Name Confluence Moses Lake Clinic |
City Moses Lake |
Total Specimens 69 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C1284 |
Facility Name FCN – North Sound Family Medicine |
City Bellingham |
Total Specimens 15 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C1500 |
Facility Name FCN – Family Health Associates |
City Bellingham |
Total Specimens 18 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C1615 |
Facility Name Fairchild Laboratory |
City Fairchild AFB |
Total Specimens 28 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C1868 |
Facility Name Mercer Island Pediatric Associates |
City Mercer Island |
Total Specimens 52 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C1969 |
Facility Name Creekside Medical |
City Vancouver |
Total Specimens 13 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C2084 |
Facility Name Northwest Pediatric Center – Rochester |
City Centralia |
Total Specimens 11 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID C2275 |
Facility Name Carl Berliner’s Office |
City Mount Vernon |
Total Specimens 11 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID H0022 |
Facility Name Lourdes Medical Center |
City Pasco |
Total Specimens 19 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID H0153 |
Facility Name Whitman Hospital and Medical Center |
City Colfax |
Total Specimens 22 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID H0701 |
Facility Name Naval Hospital – Oak Harbor |
City Oak Harbor |
Total Specimens 12 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID M0575 |
Facility Name Dawn Wadleigh, LM |
City Tacoma |
Total Specimens 17 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
|
Submitter ID M0743 |
Facility Name Christine Tindal, LM CPM MSM |
City Burien |
Total Specimens 11 |
*Demographic Error % 0.00% |
**Unsatisfactory Error % 0.00% |
(Data from 2024 Quarter 1)
*Demographic error: Key demographic fields are necessary for interpreting newborn screening results and for identifying the infant. Specimens with invalid or missing demographic information could delay diagnosis and treatment of an affected infant.
**Unsatisfactory specimen error: Some specimens are considered unsatisfactory due to the quality of specimen collection or handling. In these cases, another specimen must be obtained to complete screening, which could delay diagnosis and treatment of an affected infant or cause undue hardship for the parents.
Data from previous quarters is available on the Washington Tracking Network website.