Newborn Bloodspot Cards

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde require Scottish new born screening blood spot cards with envelopes. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) hosts the nationally commissioned Scottish New born Screening Laboratory (herein ‘SNSL’) which provides the new born blood spot screening for all babies born in Scotland.

The SNSL provides all fourteen regional health boards in Scotland with the dried blood spot card, this is a CE, IVD marked sample collection device (herein ‘the bloodspot card’). The local midwifery services use the bloodspot cards to take a heel prick sample from all new born babies, these samples are then returned to the SNSL where sample processing takes place.

The bloodspot programmes bespoke screening cards are specifically designed by the National Services Division for the purpose of screening new born babies in Scotland for a number of diseases. The design of the cards includes a card portion which can be completed by the midwife to include all required demographical information for the baby, and a filter paper portion where the blood is applied.

The filter paper must adhere to the standards detailed by the CLSI. The specifications for the screening card are extremely complex and well-regulated to ensure the screening programme can be sensitive, specific and safe for patients.

Alternative blood collection devices, including different types of filter paper cannot be used as they will not meet the specifications for the Scottish screening programme. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde require supply of an annual order of the Scottish new born screening blood spot cards and glassine envelopes.

The bloodspot cards are a specific type that is mandated by legislation from the UK National Screening Committee. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will purchase 80,000 cards with envelopes printed using Ahlstrom 226 filter paper in one batch.