Pacific northwest regional newborn screening: a paradigm of prevention.

We describe the use and early results of the Oregon Public Health Laboratory computer to monitor hospital and practitioner compliance with state newborn screening recommendations. The system tracks five major categories of screening practice in which 18 types of errors affecting screening test quality have been identified. Results show that 47.3% of newborn screening specimens were submitted incorrectly according to current state recommendations. The program will be used to improve screening practices and to evaluate educational efforts.