NBS
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Newborn screening |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Science & Engineering |
| Also written | NbS |
NBS has two meanings. It stands for Newborn screening (pediatric & neonatal) or Nature-based solutions (environmental).
Meanings of NBS at a glance
| # | NBS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newborn screening | Medical › Pediatric & Neonatal |
| 2 | Nature-based solutions | Science & Engineering › Environmental |
1. Newborn screening
Medical · Pediatric & Neonatal Abbreviations
Public health program that tests babies shortly after birth, usually 24–48 hours, for serious treatable conditions using a heel-prick blood spot, plus hearing and pulse oximetry screens. Early detection allows treatment before symptoms cause lasting harm.
Example: NBS abnormal for elevated TSH; repeat test and endocrine referral today.
Robert Guthrie developed the first practical blood-spot test, for PKU, in the early 1960s. In the US the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel lists core conditions, though each state decides its own panel. Abnormal results are screening results and need confirmatory testing. Some states repeat the blood spot at about two weeks.
2. Nature-based solutions (NbS)
Science & Engineering · Environmental Abbreviations
Actions that protect, restore or sustainably manage ecosystems to address societal challenges such as climate change, flooding, water security and biodiversity loss. Examples include restoring mangroves to buffer storm surges, reconnecting floodplains and planting urban trees.
Example: The city chose NbS, a restored wetland, over a concrete levee to manage flood risk.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature developed a widely used definition in 2016 and a global standard in 2020. Supporters cite multiple benefits, while critics warn that tree planting can be misused for greenwashing if it replaces emissions cuts. The term is also written as nature-based climate solutions.
Related abbreviations
More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations
- MMR – Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
- MMRV – Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine
- MSUD – Maple syrup urine disease
- NAS – Neonatal abstinence syndrome
- NEC – Necrotizing enterocolitis
- NOWS – Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
- OFC – Occipitofrontal circumference
- PCV – Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →
More environmental abbreviations
- LULUCF – Land use, land-use change and forestry
- MPA – Marine protected area
- MRV – Measurement, reporting and verification
- MSW – Municipal solid waste
- NDC – Nationally determined contribution
- NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act
- NOx – Nitrogen oxides
- NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
See all 62 environmental abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.