Midwives

Welcome to our Midwives Newborn Screening Page designed specifically for midwives in Washington State to enhance newborn screening practices.

We provide tailored resources to help midwives integrate newborn screening into their practice:

Educational Materials: Printable brochures and videos for families, available in multiple languages.
Training Opportunities: Schedule training with our outreach team on sample collection, storage, and submission.
Support: For guidance and support, please contact the Office of Newborn Screening. Stay informed by subscribing to our midwife bulletin for regular updates.

Educational Materials

Newborn Screening Booklet

Please read our booklet about newborn screening in Washington State. It is included with every newborn screening card kit and should be given to the new parents, so they understand the importance of newborn screening.

Newborn Screening: Important Newborn Screening Information for Parents in Washington State (English) (PDF).

If you would like more information, contact us with your questions.

Specimen Collection

Video Guide

We understand the importance of collecting high-quality specimens to ensure accurate and timely results for newborn screening. To support you, we’ve provided a video guide developed by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). CLSI creates industry standards for laboratory methods and various NBS programs throughout the country seek their expertise.

Instructional Guide

We created an instructional guide on how to fill out specimen cards:

Instructional Videos

Our program also created a series of instructional videos to guide users through each section of the specimen card, as well as a full-length video covering the entire process.

Badge Buddies

To support healthcare workers in collecting high-quality newborn screening specimens, the Washington State Newborn Screening Program has developed Badge Buddies—a convenient and easy-to-use reference tool.

What Are Badge Buddies?

Badge Buddies are compact, durable cards designed to attach to your ID badge or lanyard. They serve as a quick reference for best practices in blood spot collection, ensuring proper technique and reducing errors that can lead to unsuitable specimens.

To request badge buddies for healthcare professionals, please contact us at NBS.Prog@doh.wa.gov for more information.

These images below are examples of our current Badge Buddies that can be sent to healthcare providers.

State Funded Courier Services for Midwives and Birthing Centers

WA state now provides access to courier services for all midwives and birthing centers. Midwives should refer to our Midwife Courier Fact Sheet (PDF) for instructions on how to obtain courier services and shipping supplies.

Birthing centers must provide information for courier pickups to be established. Please submit the necessary information by completing our survey using the button below.

Submit your information

Our office is working to establish courier services as quickly as possible. Specimen submitters will be notified of their start dates. We will update this website as our efforts proceed. For questions or concerns, please contact our program at wanbscourier@doh.wa.gov or via telephone at (206) 418-5410.

Payment Information

For specimens collected in a home setting, DOH will bill the client’s insurance directly when the specimen is accompanied by the insurance information. Insurance information should be submitted with the infant’s first newborn screening specimen by completing the Payment Form, which is available online at Payment Form for Infant's First Newborn Screen (PDF). Midwives submitting newborn screening specimens collected in a home setting should ensure they have been assigned an individual “M” code to use as the Submitter ID on the specimen cards. If you are unsure of your Submitter ID, please refer to our ID# Directories page to confirm your submitter ID.

The midwife is responsible for providing accurate and complete billing information with the initial specimen. DOH will notify the midwife if billing information is incorrect or missing.

When a patient is uninsured (“cash pay” or “self-pay”), please include a check or money order from the parents or guardian for full payment ($135.10) with the initial specimen. Checks should be made payable to Washington State Department of Health. Cash is not accepted.

Quality and Compliance Statistics

Midwives can review performance metrics for their facility and individual practices. Monitoring quality and compliance is essential to ensure timely, accurate, and reliable newborn screening results for every baby.

Current Quarterly and Annual Reports

All current quarterly and annual reports can be viewed on the Newborn Screening WTN page.

Secure Remote Viewer

Quarterly lists of specimen errors containing personal health information can be accessed through our program’s Secure Remote Viewer (SRV). Please see Secure Remote Viewer for instructions on registering and gaining access.

Training Opportunities

We are committed to supporting midwives in Washington State with ongoing education, training, and collaboration opportunities. Our events are designed to empower midwives with the knowledge and tools they need to integrate newborn screening seamlessly into their practice while fostering a strong community of care providers.

Events

Secure Remote Viewer (SRV) Training Session

1pm-2pm PST

Stay Connected with Our Bulletin

We’re excited to introduce the Newborn Screening Program bulletin, a dedicated resource created specifically for midwives in Washington State.

Our bulletin is designed to keep you informed, engaged, and connected with the latest updates, resources, and best practices in newborn screening.

NBS Bulletin June 2025, Issue 1 (PDF)

Contact Us

Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to the Washington State Department of Health Newborn Screening Program at:

Phone: 206-418-5410
Email: NBS.Prog@doh.wa.gov
Website: Contact the Newborn Screening Program | Washington State Department of Health