Do they drug test new born babies at the hospital?

Answer 1

Well my sister in Law did not get drug tested but my friend did they had their babies a week apart, and in the same county just different hospitals.....my friend told her Prental doctor she used to smoke but quit when she went to her first apointment and thats why I believe she got drug tested, as my sister in law told them she has never smoked. But my friend is claiming its due to mandatory state laws, and that the hospital my sister in law went to are not following their procuders , but I don't see why a hospital would risk getting in trouble for not doing a minor procuder like that.

So i am still kind of looking for the answer myself, but I do NOT think it is mandatory seeing how my sister in law did not get drug tested.

Pretty much my friend gave them reason to, but she beleives it in mandatory.

FYI if you fail for pot, they DO NOT take the child, instead you have to join a program called directions, and pass drug test for 3 months. If you pass these drug test, CPS helps out with diapers and ect. BUT they can come back to your home after the three months, and drug test you, BUT apperantly you can move after the three months.

Answer 2

There are a variety of tests that each state requires by law to be conducted shortly after birth. Most of the testing is for genetic disorders, but can include screening for intrauterine drug exposure if maternal drug use is suspected.

Significance

• Intrauterine drug exposure is associated with an increased risk of prematurity, small gestational age, cardiac abnormalities, low birth weight, central nervous system stroke and hemorrhage, according to the journal "Clinical Chemistry."

Long Term Effects

• Long lasting effects of intrauterine drug use on a fetus may result in abnormal sleep patterns, feeding problems, abnormal cognitive and behavioral development, increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and difficulty with social interactions.

Drug Testing Newborns

• No legislation has been enacted regarding mandatory drug testing of newborns in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia, according to a national survey of state maternal and newborn drug-testing and reporting policies.

Optional Drug Testing

• A physician who is primarily responsible for the infant, such as a pediatrician, may order a newborn drug test if they believe intrauterine drug use has occurred. A combination of maternal history, newborn clinical symptoms and toxicology testing of the mother should be considered before performing a newborn drug test.

Meconium Testing

• Meconium is the dark substance that is passed through a newborn's rectum the first few days after birth until milk-based stools develop. According to arupconsult.com, it is the preferred method of drug testing because it can detect any drug use that has occurred within the last 4 to 5 months of pregnancy.

Answer 3

DRUG screening? Not typically. There are tests that are done for every infant (in the USA; other nations have different procedures) for things like PKU, but routine testing for maternal drug use would be expensive.