A newborn at 37 weeks weighing 4.1 kg at 2 hours old is at risk for neonatal hypoglycemia. Which screening should be performed?

• A. Hepatic function panel.
• B. Glucose screening.
• C. Bilirubin screening.
• D. Hearing screen.

Answer: (B)

Screening for neonatal hypoglycemia relies on measuring the baby’s blood glucose, especially when there are risk factors like being large for gestational age. A 4.1 kg newborn at 2 hours old fits this high-risk group, so checking glucose levels directly is the quickest and most informative way to detect low blood sugar early and prevent potential brain injury. The other tests are valuable for different concerns—hepatic function panels assess liver status, bilirubin screening looks for jaundice, and a hearing screen checks auditory function—but they do not identify hypoglycemia. If glucose is low, prompt feeding or IV dextrose is used to stabilize the infant.