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Spurred by criticism from a group of parents, state lawmakers passed legislation allowing parents of children born in Texas to direct the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to destroy dried bloodspot samples. Hospitals collect the samples as part of a routine screening of newborns [PDF ] for certain inheritable and congenital disorders, and the dried bloodspots are used for research after the newborn screening process is complete. The new law authorizes the storage and use of the samples and requires DSHS to give parents of newborns information about the practice and the destruction option.
As Texas Medicine reported in July, the legislature passed the law after critics raised concerns about indefinitely storing the newborn screening samples and using them in research. They complained that researchers do not ask parents for their consent for retaining the samples. And, they say, using the material could lead to breaches in confidentiality, genetic profiling, and discrimination by future employers or insurance companies.
Since 2002, DSHS has saved all newborn screening samples for quality assurance/quality control purposes and for their potential value in approved research to find new or more effective ways to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure leukemia, birth defects, brain cancer, or other serious medical conditions in children.
Information about the use and storage of the samples and a downloadable destruction request form [PDF] are available on the DSHS Web site. The form also can be requested by calling DSHS toll-free at (888) 963-7111, ext. 7333, or by mailing a request to DSHS, Newborn Screening Laboratory, MC 1947, PO Box 149347, Austin, TX 78714-9347.
The department also says its Newborn Screening Laboratory (NSL) can no longer accept specimens shipped in sealed plastic bags, including courier shipping bags. Officials cited Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines that "dried blood spot specimens must NOT be packaged in airtight, leak-proof plastic bags because the lack of air exchange in the inner environment of a sealed plastic bag causes heat buildup and moisture accumulation that can damage the dried blood spot test substances. In addition, various chemicals that can adversely affect the test substances in the dried blood spots could leach from these plastics and thus cause incorrect analytical test results."
Brendan Reilly, NSL specimen logistics manager, says physicians can ship specimens in paper and Tyvek envelopes. "For large shipments, larger envelopes and boxes pose no problem. Basically, any container that is not hermetically sealed and allows for air flow is acceptable. I would recommend the Tyvek envelopes as they are water resistant," he said.
For more information, contact the laboratory at (888) 963-7111, ext. 7333.
Action, Aug. 3, 2009
Last Published: 7/31/2009 Print this page
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