Idaho screens newborns through the Department of Health and Welfare, with laboratory analysis performed by the Washington State Public Health Laboratories. The bloodspot panel expanded from 47 to 51 conditions in 2022 and remains one of the broader Mountain West panels.
Idaho newborn screening at a glance
- Conditions screened: about 51, plus newborn hearing and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening
- Program: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Newborn Screening
- Compared to the federal RUSP: screens the full RUSP core plus secondary conditions
- Official source: Idaho newborn screening program
What the Idaho panel covers
The panel covers PKU and other metabolic disorders, endocrine and hemoglobin conditions including sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, SCID, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), plus Pompe disease and X-ALD, alongside CCHD and hearing screening.
Idaho’s partnership with Washington’s state lab lets it run a 51-condition bloodspot panel; the program’s conditions page was last updated in February 2026.
Why the Idaho panel stops where it does
The size of Idaho’s panel is not a limit of technology. Every condition on a state panel has to clear evidence review, secure ongoing funding, and be formally adopted, which is why recent additions took years of work. Many treatable, childhood-onset conditions that today’s sequencing can already detect simply have not moved through that public-health pipeline yet.
How Fore extends newborn screening
Fore Genomics offers an at-home genetic screen that uses a simple cheek swab to look at the genes tied to more than 1,000 clinically actionable, childhood-onset conditions — well beyond any state panel. Samples are sequenced in CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs, and results are delivered with support from board-certified genetic counselors. It does not replace the Idaho state screen; it extends it, using technology available today rather than waiting for the public program to expand. Compare all 50 states, read what newborn screening tests for, or start screening.
Frequently asked questions
How many conditions does Idaho screen for?
Idaho screens for about 51 through its bloodspot panel and point-of-care checks. Counts are approximate and change as the state updates its panel, so confirm current details with the Idaho program.
Is newborn screening required in Idaho?
Newborn screening is standard for every baby born in Idaho. Rules on declining vary, so check current guidance from the Idaho newborn screening program.
How do I get my baby’s Idaho results?
Results are sent to your baby’s healthcare provider. Ask your pediatrician, or contact the Idaho newborn screening program for a copy.
Medically reviewed by Fore’s Clinical Team. This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. State screening panels change; confirm current details with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Newborn Screening (as of February 2026). Sources: Idaho newborn screening program; HRSA Recommended Uniform Screening Panel.