What is the BabyScreen+ research study?
In Victoria, all babies can have standard newborn screening (the ‘heel prick test’). This screens for around 25 serious but treatable childhood-onset conditions.
BabyScreen+ is a research study where parents can choose to have their baby’s heel prick sample screened for over 500 additional treatable, childhood-onset conditions. This is called genomic newborn screening.
This study is investigating the best way to deliver genomic newborn screening for babies across Victoria.
How to take part
Who can participate?
You can enrol in the study if you have received a BabyScreen+ study invitation card.
To enrol you must:
- Be aged 16 years or over
- Be over 32 weeks pregnant
- Be planning to give birth in Victoria
- Be the birth parent (the person who is giving birth to the baby)
- Have your unique study ID; this is printed on your study invitation card
What is involved?
Enrolling online takes about 30 minutes, and the test is completely free. You will be asked to:
- Provide some details about yourself and your pregnancy
- Learn about genomic newborn screening via an online platform called Genetics Adviser
- Decide whether you want your baby to have genomic newborn screening
- Complete three short online surveys: when you enrol, 3 months after results, and 12 months after results
A few days after birth, a heel prick sample will be collected for standard newborn screening. The same sample will be used for BabyScreen+, no additional sample collection is required.
Register Your Interest Here
If you have any questions or concerns about participating in BabyScreen+, please contact our study team.
Proudly in partnership with
BabyScreen+ is funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund as part of the Genomics Health Futures Mission, grant number MRF2015937.