TESTING METHODS
The Newborn Screening Laboratory is updating its testing equipment.
Additionally, new computer software to run the new equipment and
track specimens has been developed. This change is driven by the
desire to improve our service to you and to the newborn. This redesign
will accelerate notification and improve referrals. The new testing
will use the DELFIA system.
Congenital Hypothyroidism - The testing
will change from using a radioactive isotope reagent to one that
uses a fluorescent reaction to measure T4 and TSH values.
Galactosemia - The new method will
provide semiquantitative results for the galactose -1-posphate uridyltransferase
(GALT) enzyme. The new method is semi-automated with instrumentation
read fluorescence. The enzyme action will be reported in GALT units/gHb.
Phenylketonuria - The new test is
a direct measurement of phenylalanine using a microchemisty technique.
The test is evaluated using an instrument that measures the color
development that occurs during the testing procedure and then determines
the phenylalanine level. The Phenylalanine will be reported in mg/dl
as is presently done.
All our positive screening results are considered presumptive.
Diagnostic testing is necessary to confirm diagnosis of disease.
Results have always depended on proper collection of the specimen,
timing of collection (physiological surges), transit time and exposure
to heat and humidity.
The laboratory upgrade will use the Specimen Gate software, which
allows more options to manage data and report results. FAX, e-mail,
and hard copy U.S. mail, are all possible. You, the submitter, will
be able to choose the reporting method.
EG & G Wallac, Incorporated, is providing both the laboratory
equipment and software. The software is Windows based and more versatile
than the previous system. We will be able to gather statistics that
were impossible to gather in the old system. This new capability
will allow us to advise you, the health care provider, with information
on the number of unsatisfactory samples from you facility, the number
of missed second screenings and other valuable information.
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