Report Cards

• A site specific graphical report showing the number of NBS specimens received during the report period which were reported by NSO as unsatisfactory.
• Includes an itemization of the reasons why specimens were reported as unsatisfactory and permits comparison to the provincial trend.
• Useful for highlighting the most common reason(s) why specimens collected at a hospital or midwifery practice are rejected so that changes to collection practices may be considered.

Click here for information about how to interpret your Unsatisfactory Specimen Indicator.

As of July 29th 2019, NSO has made improvements to the process for screening and reporting DBS specimens which are not of sufficient quality and/or quantity to complete the entire NBS panel. NSO performs “partial panel” screening on DBS specimens which are deemed acceptable to produce good quality results for the most aggressive or early presenting diseases. A repeat DBS specimen is still required as soon as possible to complete the balance of the screening tests. DBS specimens for which we are only able to complete a “partial panel” are still considered unsatisfactory and included in the Unsatisfactory Specimen Indicator count.

• A site specific graphical report providing information about the timing of NBS specimen collection by a hospital or midwifery practice.
• Only data for initial specimens is included.
• The indicator displays the “Age at Collection” (in days) on the x-axis and the “Cumulative Percent Specimens Collected” on the y-axis. The “Cumulative Percent Specimens Collected” is the running total of all specimens collected between birth and the age specified on the X axis, expressed as a percent of the total number of specimens collected during the period of the report.
• This indicator may be helpful for guiding operational processes aimed at accommodating the NSO recommended age for initial NBS specimen collection.

Click here for instructions on how to interpret the Age at Collection Indicator.

As of July 29^th 2019 and the launch of the new NSO laboratory Information System, Birth and Collection Time are included in the same field as Date of Birth and Collection. Therefore time of birth and collection can no longer be determined as missing from the requisition if the Date of Birth and collection are provided. The time of birth and DBS collection remain critical pieces of information required to determine the age at specimen collection especially for specimens collected near the minimum 24 hr. recommended time.

• Displays the percent-completeness of key fields on the newborn screening (NBS) blood collection device and includes all NBS specimens received by NSO from your institution or midwifery practice during the period of the report.
• These critical fields are used to identify and link newborns with previous screening specimens and to locate the family or healthcare provider in the event of a screen positive result.
• Some demographic information is incorporated into the disorder logic used to interpret screening results.
• Missing, incomplete or improbable information in any of these fields on the requisition necessitates follow-up by NSO staff to obtain this information resulting in unnecessary delays in the infant’s screening process and creating un-necessary work for you and NSO.

Click here for instructions on how to interpret the Requisition Completion Indicator.

• A site specific graphical report providing information about the timing of CCHD screens by a hospital or midwifery practice.
• The recommended time to perform CCHD screening is between 24-48 hours of age, optimally between 24-36 hours.

Information on how to interpret your CCHD Age at Screening Indicator can be found here.

• A site specific graphical report providing information about the number of unsatisfactory CCHD screens or forms by a hospital or midwifery practice.
• Includes an itemization of the reasons why screens were reported as unsatisfactory and permits comparison to the provincial trend.
• Useful for highlighting the most common reason(s) why CCHD screens from a hospital or midwifery practice are unacceptable so that changes to screening practices may be considered. 

Click here for information on how to interpret your Unsatisfactory CCHD Screen Indicator.