Costs

You do not have to pay for the heel prick test. If your child needs follow-up tests after the heel prick test, then this will be completely refunded by the health care insurer. Sometimes the parents will also need to have tests after an abnormal heel prick test result. The tests for parents fall under their own obligatory deductible excess.

Are the heel prick test results 100% reliable?

There is a small risk that even if the result of the heel prick test is good, your child may still have one of the diseases. There is also a risk that the result of the heel prick test is abnormal, but follow-up tests show that your child does not have the disease. Regrettably this is unavoidable.

The heel prick test is most reliable if it is done within the first week of birth.

The heel prick test only looks for a limited number of diseases. A good result does not guarantee that there is nothing wrong with your child.

If you have doubts about the health of your child, please contact your GP.

Have you moved to the Netherlands from another country?

If you have moved to the Netherlands from another country and your baby is not yet six months old, then you will be offered the opportunity to have the heel prick test. This test is offered even if your baby has already had the heel prick test in another country. This is because not every country screens for the same diseases. It is up to you to decide if you want your baby to have the heel prick test in the Netherlands. If you are a Dutch family who is resident abroad and you would like your child to have the Netherlands heel prick test, please contact the West region RIVM office.

Extending the heel prick test

Tests for more diseases will be added to the heel prick test in the coming years. For more information about this see www.pns.nl/hielprik/uitbreiding.