Within forty-eight hours after birth, the heel of every baby in the United States has been pricked and the blood sent for compulsory screening to detect or rule out a large number of disorders. Newborn screening is expanding rapidly, fueled by the prospect of saving lives. Yet many lives are also changed by it in ways not yet recognized. Testing Baby is the first book to draw on parents’ experiences with newborn screening in order to examine its far-reaching sociological consequences. Rachel Grob’s cautionary tale also explores the powerful ways that parents’ narratives have shaped this emotionally charged policy arena. Newborn screening occurs almost always without parents’ consent and often without their knowledge or understanding, yet it has the power to alter such things as family dynamics at the household level, the context of parenting, the way we manage disease identity, and how parents’ interests are understood and solicited in policy debates.

Testing Baby is the first book to draw on parents' experiences with newborn screening in order to examine its far-reaching sociological consequences. Newborn screening occurs almost always without parents' consent and often without their knowledge or understanding, yet it has the power to alter such things as family dynamics at the household level, the context of parenting, the way we manage disease identity, and how parents' interests are understood and solicited in policy debates. Rachel Grob's cautionary tale explores the powerful ways that parents' narratives have shaped this emotionally charged policy arena.

Phlebotomy uses large, hollow needles to remove blood specimens for lab testing or blood donation. Each step in the process carries risks - both for patients and health workers. Patients may be bruised. Health workers may receive needle-stick injuries. Both can become infected with bloodborne organisms such as hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis or malaria. Moreover, each step affects the quality of the specimen and the diagnosis. A contaminated specimen will produce a misdiagnosis. Clerical errors can prove fatal. The new WHO guidelines provide recommended steps for safe phlebotomy and reiterate accepted principles for drawing, collecting blood and transporting blood to laboratories/blood banks.

The perfect gift book for new parents everywhere! Assess your baby’s genius in a series of fun and easy tests and activities, in the next title in the best-selling TEST YOUR series.

Introduction: the consequences of newborn screening -- The expansion of newborn screening -- Patients-in-waiting -- Shifting disease ontologies -- Is my baby normal? -- The limits of prevention -- Does expanded newborn screening save lives? -- Conclusion: the future of expanded newborn screening

'Should my baby be talking by now?' 'Why hasn't he started feeding himself yet?' Anxious parents the world over ask themselves these same questions. A recent survey by the Social Issues Research Centre revealed that three-quarters of parents wanted more guidance on whether their babies' cognitive skills were above or below average. In response to this, leading psychologist Dr Dorothy Einon, has devised a test that will enable you to address these and many other developmental concerns. Simple, observational tests, conducted at home, will help you to monitor your baby's physical, cognitive and social development and compare him to the average baby of his age. You can chart yout baby's growth rate; test his senses and mobility; find out what he can understand, remember and recognise, as well as learn how he perceives the world. Dr Einon provides fascinating insight into the mind of a baby and gently reminds parents that while some babies do develop at an exceptional rate, all babies are different and those with lower scores have plenty of time to catch up with their peers.

Whether your child is being tested for learning disabilities or gifted-&-talented programs, or being screened for lead poisoning, a parent who hasn't mastered the vocabulary of testing may find their child shortchanged. This comprehensive guide provides parents with essential information for 150 medical, educational, and psychological tests that their children may encounter from infancy through adolescence. A full description of each test includes: who must administer the test and under what conditions; what the test tests for and what it cannot reveal; what preparation is required; what affects scoring; and what follow-up testing might be recommended.