Without symptoms of disease, infants generally do not need many laboratory screening tests once
newborn screening tests have been performed during the first week of life. If the health care provider identifies risk factors in an infant, laboratory screening tests may be ordered, for example, for
iron deficiency,
lead poisoning, and
tuberculosis.
For more information on what happens at your infant’s medical exams, see Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Pocket Guide.
You can find out more about preventive medicine and steps you can take to keep you and your family healthy by reading the companion article Staying Healthy in an Era of Patient Responsibility.
General Sources
S1
Schedules for children and adolescents—United States, 2008 (policy statement). Jan 2008. Pediatrics 121(1):219-220.
S2
Hagan JF, Shaw JS and Duncan PM, eds. Bright Futures Guidelines: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (3rd ed.). 2008. Elk Grove Village, Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics.
S3
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI). Preventive services for children and adolescents. Bloomington (MN): Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI); 2007 Oct.
S4
Biagioli F et al. What are appropriate screening tests for infants and children? Sep 2006. Journal of Family Practice 55;9:803-808.
S5
Green M and Palfrey JS. Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Pocket Guide (2nd rev.). 2002. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. Available on the internet through http://www.brightfutures.org. Reaccessed 3 Dec 2007.
S6
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine. Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care (policy statement). Mar 2000. Pediatrics 105(3):645-646.
