Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD)
Congenital heart disease is important to identify and treat as soon as possible. Critical congenital heart disease may require surgical or medical intervention in the first year of life. Almost all types of known congenital heart defects can be surgically repaired or treated.
For the above reasons, Iowa law requires every newborn to be screened for CCHD prior to discharge from the hospital, or after 48 hours of age. Iowa Administrative Code 641 IAC 4 describes the requirements for newborn screening for CCHD.
If you chose to refuse the newborn screen for critical congenital heart disease, please talk with the baby's health care provider. They will require you to sign the CCHD newborn screening refusal form.
Refusal form for Critical Congenital Heart Disease Newborn Screening