Which screening is used to check for congenital heart defects in newborns?

Which screening is used to check for congenital heart defects in newborns?

• A. CCHD screening
• B. Hearing screen
• C. PKU screening
• D. Hypothyroidism screening

Answer: (A)

CCHD screening uses pulse oximetry to check a newborn’s blood oxygen saturation, which helps detect critical congenital heart defects that might not be obvious at birth. Low oxygen levels or a notable difference between readings from the hand and a foot can indicate a cardiac problem, prompting further evaluation such as echocardiography. This test is specifically aimed at identifying heart defects, whereas the other newborn screens target non-cardiac conditions: hearing loss, metabolic disorders like PKU, and thyroid hormone deficiency.

CCHD screening uses pulse oximetry to check a newborn’s blood oxygen saturation, which helps detect critical congenital heart defects that might not be obvious at birth. Low oxygen levels or a notable difference between readings from the hand and a foot can indicate a cardiac problem, prompting further evaluation such as echocardiography. This test is specifically aimed at identifying heart defects, whereas the other newborn screens target non-cardiac conditions: hearing loss, metabolic disorders like PKU, and thyroid hormone deficiency.