| Consent requirement | Current practice | LMC “ideal” |
| N (%) | N (%) | |
| Babies tested without parents’ knowledge | 0 | 0 |
| Parents aware baby is being tested but not what for | 28 (4) | 2 (0.3) |
| Parents aware of testing and its purpose but don’t specifically give consent | 88 (11) | 28 (4) |
| Parents give verbal consent | 497 (65) | 301 (39) |
| Parents give written consent | 96 (13) | 132 (17) |
| Parents give separate written consent for testing and storage | 50 (7) | 294 (38) |
| Don’t know | 1 (0.1) | 1 (0.1) |
| No response | 9 (1) | 11 (1) |
LMC, lead maternity carer; NBS, newborn screening.