Question

The nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with the mother of an infant who is being discharged prior to having a required blood test done. The nurse explains to this mother that she needs to bring the newborn back to check the infant's phenylalanine level. Which statement is most accurately related to this blood test?

Answer 1

Phenylalanine levels have to be normal for the newborn to growth healthy, that is to say do not have seizures, brain damage or intellectual disability.

Step-by-step explanation:

A phenylalanine test is done in the newborn to check that he or she has the enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. Tyrosine is essential for the development of the baby. If phenylalanine is not converted the accumulation of this amino acid will damage the brain of the newborn.

When the enzyme that converts phenylalanine is not present a special diet and treatment is needed. The newborn has to be tested after some weeks to check phenylalanine levels and to control that there is not brain damage.