- 1. Foot test
- 2. Extended foot test
- 3. Ear test
- 4. Eye test
- 5. Blood typing
- 6. Little heart test
- 7. Hip test
- 8. Tongue test
Soon after birth, the baby needs to have tests that help detect diseases or genetic problems, such as phenylketonuria, anemia, hypothyroidism or tongue stuck.
The mandatory tests for the newborn are the foot test, the blood typing, the ear, eye, little heart and tongue test, which are offered by SUS and must be done in the first days of life, from preferably in the maternity ward.
See below which tests are important for the baby early in life.
1. Foot test
The Pezinho Test is mandatory and free of charge, and must be done between 48 hours after birth and up to 1 week of the baby's life, and can also be performed at the maternity ward or at the health center.
It is made from a small blood sample taken from the baby's foot, and is capable of detecting 6 diseases: phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell anemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cystic fibrosis and biotinidase deficiency. See more how the foot test is done.
2. Extended foot test
Through the extended heel test it is possible to detect more than 30 types of health problems, in addition to the diseases that the simple heel test verifies. Some diseases that this expanded test identifies are toxoplasmosis, syphilis, AIDS, rubella and congenital herpes. Check out more diseases that the enlarged heel test can detect.
However, it is not mandatory and is not offered by SUS, and is usually requested by the doctor only when there are suspicions that the baby may have any of these diseases, such as when the mother is infected and can pass it on to the child.
3. Ear test
The Ear Test, also called neonatal hearing screening, is a mandatory exam and offered free of charge by the SUS to detect hearing problems in the baby.
It is done in the maternity ward, preferably between 24 and 48 hours of the baby's life, and it should be done at the most until the baby is one month old. See more about the ideal time to do the ear test.
4. Eye test
The eye test, also known as the red reflex test, is usually offered free of charge by the maternity or health centers to detect vision problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma or strabismus.
It must be done during hospitalization in the maternity ward or in the first consultation with the pediatrician after birth, preferably in the first week of life. Find out more how the eye test is done.
5. Blood typing
Blood typing is done from the blood sample taken in the Pezinho Test, and serves to identify the baby's blood type, which can be A, B, AB or O, positive or negative.
6. Little heart test
The little heart test is mandatory and free, carried out at the maternity hospital between 24 and 48 hours after birth, using blood collected from the baby's right arm and one of the legs, to identify the level of oxygen in the blood.
If the amount of oxygen is low or if there is a big difference between the measurements of the arm and the leg, the baby may have a heart problem and other tests should be done to confirm the diagnosis.
7. Hip test
The hip test is mandatory and offered by SUS only in some states and cities, and may also be ordered by the doctor in private maternity hospitals.
It is made from the movement of the newborn's legs to detect developmental dysplasia of the hip, a disease that can cause problems such as pain, shortening of the limb and osteoarthritis.
8. Tongue test
The tongue test is a mandatory test performed by a speech therapist to diagnose problems with the tongue brake of newborns, such as ankyloglossia known as a stuck tongue. This condition can impair breastfeeding or compromise the act of swallowing, chewing and speaking, so if detected soon it is already possible to indicate the most appropriate treatment.
This test is performed by speech therapists in the first days of the baby's life and is usually performed in the maternity ward, however, it can be done in health centers that have this professional. Check out more why the tongue test should be done.
To prevent disease, see also the entire baby vaccination schedule.
