Quality measures include information on the number and type of unsatisfactory specimens received and the frequency of incomplete or incorrect demographic information submitted with specimens. Collecting good quality specimens and providing correct demographic information on the specimen cards are critical to the timely identification of babies with newborn screening conditions. These measures assist hospitals in identifying areas for training or improvement.
Unsatisfactory Specimens
Some specimens are considered unsatisfactory due to the quality of specimen collection or handling. In these cases, another specimen must be obtained to complete screening, which could delay diagnosis and treatment of an affected infant or cause undue hardship for the parents.
Overall, 2.5% of specimens submitted were classified as unsatisfactory in the 2017 year. This is an increase of 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.
Unsatisfactory Specimen Error Rates by Hospital
See Unsatisfactory Specimen Key (PDF) for descriptions and causes of unsatisfactory specimens.
Demographic Errors on Specimens Cards
Key demographic fields are necessary for interpreting newborn screening results and for identifying the infant. Specimens with invalid or missing demographic information could delay diagnosis and treatment of an affected infant.
Overall, 12.0% of specimen cards submitted had one or more demographic errors in the 2017 year. This is an improvement of 6.7 percentage points from the previous year.
Demographic Error Rates by Hospital
This information is also available alphabetically by hospital name, and in more detail regarding specific types of errors:
- Unsatisfactory Specimens and Demographic Errors Report by Submitting Facility – Alphabetical (PDF)
- Detailed Unsatisfactory Specimens and Demographic Errors Report (PDF)
Unsatisfactory Specimen and Demographic Error1 Rates by Submitter Type2
1 See Key 2: Hospital Volume (PDF) for hospital volume category definitions.
2 See Key 1: Unsatisfactory Specimen (PDF) Descriptions for descriptions and causes of unsatisfactory specimens.
3 Includes specimen cards with one or more missing or invalid demographic fields.
| Submitting Facility | City | Total Specimens | Unsat Specimen1 Error Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Three Rivers Hospital |
Brewster |
151 |
0% |
|
Lincoln Hospital |
Davenport |
28 |
0% |
|
Kaiser Permanente WA - Capitol Hill |
Seattle |
14 |
0% |
|
St Joseph Hospital Providence - Chewelah |
Chewelah |
10 |
0% |
|
Willapa Harbor Hospital |
South Bend |
2 |
0% |
|
Swedish - Cherry Hill |
Seattle |
1 |
0% |
|
Lourdes Medical Center |
Pasco |
1 |
0% |
|
Yakima Regional Medical Center |
Yakima |
1 |
0% |
|
East Adams Rural Hospital |
Ritzville |
1 |
0% |
|
Ferry County Memorial Hospital |
Republic |
1 |
0% |
|
Fairchild Air Force Base - 92nd Medical Group |
Fairchild AFB |
1 |
0% |
|
St Mary Medical Center - Providence |
Walla Walla |
701 |
0.3% |
|
Naval Hospital - Bremerton |
Bremerton |
1,137 |
0.4% |
|
Mason General Hospital |
Shelton |
269 |
0.4% |
|
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center |
Vancouver |
3,668 |
0.7% |
|
Harrison Medical Center |
Bremerton |
2,135 |
0.8% |
|
Madigan Army Medical Center |
Joint Base Lewis-McChord |
3,977 |
0.9% |
|
Kadlec Regional Medical Center |
Richland |
3,286 |
0.9% |
|
Good Samaritan Hospital - MultiCare |
Puyallup |
2,372 |
0.9% |
|
Northwest Hospital - UW Medicine |
Seattle |
1,584 |
0.9% |
|
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center |
Vancouver |
2,303 |
1.0% |
|
St John Medical Center - PeaceHealth |
Longview |
863 |
1.0% |
|
Olympic Medical Center |
Port Angeles |
948 |
1.1% |
|
Jefferson Healthcare |
Port Townsend |
185 |
1.1% |
|
Samaritan Healthcare |
Moses Lake |
1,053 |
1.2% |
|
Sacred Heart Medical Center - Providence |
Spokane |
4,625 |
1.3% |
|
Holy Family Hospital - Providence |
Spokane |
1,424 |
1.3% |
|
Valley Hospital |
Spokane |
976 |
1.3% |
|
Naval Hospital - Oak Harbor |
Oak Harbor |
454 |
1.3% |
|
Providence Everett Regional Medical Center |
Everett |
5,172 |
1.4% |
|
Island Hospital |
Anacortes |
694 |
1.4% |
|
Pullman Regional Hospital |
Pullman |
433 |
1.4% |
|
Deaconess Hospital - MultiCare |
Spokane |
1,847 |
1.5% |
|
St Francis Hospital |
Federal Way |
1,496 |
1.5% |
|
Capital Medical Center |
Olympia |
664 |
1.5% |
|
Overlake Medical Center |
Bellevue |
3,861 |
1.6% |
|
Skagit Valley Hospital |
Mount Vernon |
1,013 |
1.6% |
|
Toppenish Community Hospital |
Toppenish |
678 |
1.6% |
|
Virginia Mason Memorial |
Yakima |
4,319 |
1.8% |
|
WhidbeyHealth Medical Center |
Coupeville |
387 |
1.8% |
|
Swedish - First Hill |
Seattle |
8,531 |
1.9% |
|
Swedish - Issaquah |
Issaquah |
1,685 |
1.9% |
|
Seattle Children's Hospital |
Seattle |
806 |
1.9% |
|
Lake Chelan Community Hospital |
Chelan |
161 |
1.9% |
|
Newport Hospital |
Newport |
159 |
1.9% |
|
St Joseph Medical Center - Tacoma |
Tacoma |
4,997 |
2.0% |
|
North Valley Hospital |
Tonasket |
102 |
2.0% |
|
Central Washington Hospital/Confluence Health |
Wenatchee |
1,365 |
2.1% |
|
Swedish - Ballard |
Seattle |
1,229 |
2.1% |
|
Prosser Memorial Hospital |
Prosser |
526 |
2.1% |
|
Grays Harbor Community Hospital |
Aberdeen |
429 |
2.1% |
|
EvergreenHealth - Monroe |
Monroe |
47 |
2.1% |
|
EvergreenHealth Kirkland |
Kirkland |
4,966 |
2.2% |
|
St Joseph Hospital PeaceHealth - Bellingham |
Bellingham |
2,077 |
2.2% |
|
St Elizabeth Hospital |
Enumclaw |
439 |
2.3% |
|
Tacoma General Hospital - MultiCare |
Tacoma |
3,737 |
2.4% |
|
Swedish - Edmonds |
Edmonds |
1,962 |
2.5% |
|
Highline Medical Center |
Burien |
1,026 |
2.5% |
|
Sunnyside Community Hospital |
Sunnyside |
889 |
2.6% |
|
Mid-Valley Hospital |
Omak |
231 |
2.6% |
|
Trios Health Hospital |
Kennewick |
1,510 |
2.8% |
|
Valley Medical Center - UW Medicine |
Renton |
4,007 |
2.9% |
|
Kittitas Valley Healthcare |
Ellensburg |
340 |
2.9% |
|
Whitman Hospital and Medical Center |
Colfax |
63 |
3.2% |
|
Virginia Mason Hospital |
Seattle |
30 |
3.3% |
|
Othello Community Hospital |
Othello |
807 |
3.5% |
|
Harborview Medical Center - UW Medicine |
Seattle |
112 |
3.6% |
|
Forks Community Hospital |
Forks |
109 |
3.7% |
|
Coulee Medical Center |
Grand Coulee |
129 |
5.4% |
|
Summit Pacific Medical Center |
Elma |
51 |
5.9% |
|
Providence St Peter Hospital |
Olympia |
2,329 |
6.7% |
|
Auburn Medical Center - MultiCare |
Auburn |
1,234 |
7.1% |
|
Providence Centralia Hospital |
Centralia |
697 |
7.5% |
|
Mount Carmel Hospital - Providence |
Colville |
241 |
8.3% |
|
Cascade Valley Hospital |
Arlington |
206 |
9.2% |
|
University of Washington Medical Center |
Seattle |
2,277 |
10.1% |
|
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital - MultiCare |
Tacoma |
29 |
24.1% |
|
Columbia Basin Hospital |
Ephrata |
4 |
25.0% |
|
Walla Walla General Hospital |
Walla Walla |
9 |
33.3% |
|
Lewis County Hospital |
Morton |
3 |
33.3% |
|
All Hospital Specimens |
Statewide |
102,286 |
2.1% |
|
Non-Hospital Specimens |
Statewide |
67,880 |
3.2% |
|
All Birth Center Specimens |
Statewide |
754 |
2.4% |
|
All Midwife Specimens |
Statewide |
4,719 |
5.2% |
|
All Clinic and Laboratory Specimens |
Statewide |
62,407 |
3.0% |
|
All Washington State Births |
Statewide |
170,166 |
2.5% |
See Key 1: Unsatisfactory Specimen Descriptions for descriptions and causes of unsatisfactory specimens.
| Submitting Facility | City | Total Specimens | Demographic Error Rate1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lewis County Hospital |
Morton |
3 |
0% |
|
Willapa Harbor Hospital |
South Bend |
2 |
0% |
|
Swedish - Cherry Hill |
Seattle |
1 |
0% |
|
Lourdes Medical Center |
Pasco |
1 |
0% |
|
Yakima Regional Medical Center |
Yakima |
1 |
0% |
|
East Adams Rural Hospital |
Ritzville |
1 |
0% |
|
Ferry County Memorial Hospital |
Republic |
1 |
0% |
|
Fairchild Air Force Base - 92nd Medical Group |
Fairchild AFB |
1 |
0% |
|
Three Rivers Hospital |
Brewster |
151 |
1.3% |
|
North Valley Hospital |
Tonasket |
102 |
2.0% |
|
EvergreenHealth Kirkland |
Kirkland |
4,966 |
2.4% |
|
Virginia Mason Memorial |
Yakima |
4,319 |
2.6% |
|
Holy Family Hospital - Providence |
Spokane |
1,424 |
2.6% |
|
Olympic Medical Center |
Port Angeles |
948 |
2.6% |
|
Naval Hospital - Bremerton |
Bremerton |
1,137 |
2.7% |
|
Forks Community Hospital |
Forks |
109 |
2.8% |
|
Madigan Army Medical Center |
Tacoma |
3,977 |
2.9% |
|
Othello Community Hospital |
Othello |
807 |
3.1% |
|
Newport Hospital |
Newport |
159 |
3.1% |
|
Coulee Medical Center |
Grand Coulee |
129 |
3.1% |
|
Samaritan Healthcare |
Moses Lake |
1,053 |
3.4% |
|
Northwest Hospital - UW Medicine |
Seattle |
1,584 |
3.9% |
|
Sunnyside Community Hospital |
Sunnyside |
889 |
3.9% |
|
Overlake Medical Center |
Bellevue |
3,861 |
4.0% |
|
Valley Hospital |
Spokane |
976 |
4.0% |
|
Swedish - Edmonds |
Edmonds |
1,962 |
4.2% |
|
Skagit Valley Hospital |
Mount Vernon |
1,013 |
4.2% |
|
Island Hospital |
Anacortes |
694 |
4.2% |
|
Swedish - Issaquah |
Issaquah |
1,685 |
4.5% |
|
Swedish - Ballard |
Seattle |
1,229 |
4.5% |
|
Highline Medical Center |
Burien |
1,026 |
4.6% |
|
Kadlec Regional Medical Center |
Richland |
3,286 |
4.7% |
|
Providence St Peter Hospital |
Olympia |
2,329 |
4.7% |
|
St Joseph Hospital PeaceHealth - Bellingham |
Bellingham |
2,077 |
4.7% |
|
St John Medical Center - PeaceHealth |
Longview |
863 |
4.9% |
|
Toppenish Community Hospital |
Toppenish |
678 |
4.9% |
|
St Francis Hospital |
Federal Way |
1,496 |
5.2% |
|
St Mary Medical Center - Providence |
Walla Walla |
701 |
5.3% |
|
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center |
Vancouver |
3,668 |
5.6% |
|
Harrison Medical Center |
Bremerton |
2,135 |
5.6% |
|
Grays Harbor Community Hospital |
Aberdeen |
429 |
5.6% |
|
WhidbeyHealth Medical Center |
Coupeville |
387 |
5.7% |
|
Valley Medical Center - UW Medicine |
Renton |
4,007 |
5.8% |
|
Capital Medical Center |
Olympia |
664 |
5.9% |
|
Seattle Children's Hospital |
Seattle |
806 |
6.1% |
|
St Joseph Medical Center - Tacoma |
Tacoma |
4,997 |
6.2% |
|
Central Washington Hospital/Confluence Health |
Wenatchee |
1,365 |
6.2% |
|
Sacred Heart Medical Center - Providence |
Spokane |
4,625 |
6.3% |
|
Prosser Memorial Hospital |
Prosser |
526 |
6.3% |
|
Mason General Hospital |
Shelton |
269 |
6.3% |
|
St Elizabeth Hospital |
Enumclaw |
439 |
6.4% |
|
Auburn Medical Center - MultiCare |
Auburn |
1,234 |
6.6% |
|
Tacoma General Hospital - MultiCare |
Tacoma |
3,737 |
6.7% |
|
Providence Centralia Hospital |
Centralia |
697 |
6.7% |
|
Virginia Mason Hospital |
Seattle |
30 |
6.7% |
|
Deaconess Hospital - MultiCare |
Spokane |
1,847 |
7.1% |
|
Kaiser Permanente WA - Capitol Hill |
Seattle |
14 |
7.1% |
|
University of Washington Medical Center |
Seattle |
2,277 |
7.3% |
|
Trios Health Hospital |
Kennewick |
1,510 |
7.6% |
|
Good Samaritan Hospital - MultiCare |
Puyallup |
2,372 |
7.7% |
|
Whitman Hospital and Medical Center |
Colfax |
63 |
7.9% |
|
Pullman Regional Hospital |
Pullman |
433 |
8.1% |
|
Kittitas Valley Healthcare |
Ellensburg |
340 |
8.8% |
|
St Joseph Hospital Providence - Chewelah |
Chewelah |
10 |
10.0% |
|
Providence Everett Regional Medical Center |
Everett |
5,172 |
10.5% |
|
Lake Chelan Community Hospital |
Chelan |
161 |
10.6% |
|
Jefferson Healthcare |
Port Townsend |
185 |
10.8% |
|
Cascade Valley Hospital |
Arlington |
206 |
11.2% |
|
Naval Hospital - Oak Harbor |
Oak Harbor |
454 |
11.7% |
|
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center |
Vancouver |
2,303 |
13.2% |
|
Mid-Valley Hospital |
Omak |
231 |
13.9% |
|
Summit Pacific Medical Center |
Elma |
51 |
15.7% |
|
Mount Carmel Hospital - Providence |
Colville |
241 |
15.8% |
|
Walla Walla General Hospital |
Walla Walla |
9 |
22.2% |
|
EvergreenHealth - Monroe |
Monroe |
47 |
23.4% |
|
Columbia Basin Hospital |
Ephrata |
4 |
25.0% |
|
Swedish - First Hill |
Seattle |
8,531 |
26.1% |
|
Harborview Medical Center - UW Medicine |
Seattle |
112 |
28.6% |
|
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital - MultiCare |
Tacoma |
29 |
31.0% |
|
Lincoln Hospital |
Davenport |
28 |
35.7% |
|
All Hospital Specimens |
Statewide |
102,286 |
7.7% |
|
Non-Hospital Specimens |
Statewide |
67,880 |
19.1% |
|
All Birth Center Specimens |
Statewide |
754 |
26.9% |
|
All Midwife Specimens |
Statewide |
4,719 |
17.9% |
|
All Clinic and Laboratory Specimens |
Statewide |
62,407 |
19.1% |
|
All Washington State Births |
Statewide |
170,166 |
12.0% |
1 Includes specimen cards with one or more missing or invalid demographic fields.
If you have questions regarding the compliance and quality standards for Newborn Screening, please contact us at 206-418-5410 or email at NBS.Prog@doh.wa.gov.