Find out more about newborn screening
Find detailed information about the screening offered Newborn screening | HSC Public Health Agency.
Who is this page for?
This page is for parents and carers looking for information about screening offered to newborn babies in Northern Ireland.
Screening for your baby
Your baby will be offered screening and health checks during the first few weeks of life. These include:
- Newborn physical examination - a physical examination to check your baby's eyes, heart, hips and for boys testes.
- Newborn hearing screening - a simple test to check your baby's hearing and identify possible hearing loss early.
- Newborn blood spot screening - carried out when your baby is five days old and screens for a number of rare, but serious conditions.
Key resources
The PHA has developed three leaflets to explain the stages of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme in Northern Ireland. There is also a checklist to help you to monitor your baby's development in addition to the Smart4Hearing (S4H)
In the first week after birth, all babies in Northern Ireland are now offered screening for six inherited metabolic disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disorders.
Last reviewed
05 October 2026