---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300b–14"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300b–14"
heading: "National contingency plan for newborn screening"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300b-14"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter IX — Genetic Diseases, Hemophilia Programs, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome"
  - "Part A — Genetic Diseases"
---

# §300b–14. National contingency plan for newborn screening

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after April 24, 2008, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) and State departments of health (or related [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)), shall develop a national contingency plan for newborn screening for use by a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), region, or [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) in the event of a public health emergency. The plan shall be updated as needed and at least every five years.
- (b) **Contents—** The contingency plan developed under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include a plan for—
  - (1) the collection and transport of specimens;
  - (2) the shipment of specimens to [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) newborn screening laboratories;
  - (3) the processing of specimens;
  - (4) the reporting of screening results to physicians and families;
  - (5) the diagnostic confirmation of positive screening results;
  - (6) ensuring the availability of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) and management resources;
  - (7) educating families about newborn screening; and
  - (8) carrying out other activities determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c).

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XI, § 1115, as added Pub. L. 110–204, § 7, Apr. 24, 2008, 122 Stat. 711; amended Pub. L. 113–240, § 8, Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2855.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–240 substituted “consortium” for “consortia” and inserted at end “The plan shall be updated as needed and at least every five years.”