Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme - Consultation on storage and use of blood spot cards

Newborn Blood Spot Cards: Consent, Storage and Use
Publication date: 28 March 2007
Submissions closed: Wednesday 20 June 2007

This consultation document sought public opinion on consent for screening newborn babies for metabolic conditions and storing and using the New Zealand collection of newborn blood spot cards (commonly known as ‘Guthrie cards’).

Over the last few years, some concerns have been expressed regarding the privacy, storage and future use of blood spot cards. As part of improvements to the programme, the Ministry of Health sought public views through public consultation on these issues.

The National Screening Unit (a unit of the Ministry of Health that governs the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme) and the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme (NMSP) Advisory Group regard the integrity of the NMSP as critical and wish to ensure participation in the programme is not compromised. The consultation was conducted by the National Screening Unit.

Public opinion was sought via:

a web-based questionnaire (printed copies are also available)
public focus group discussions

View information on the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme on the National Screening Unit website.