Newborn Screening for Metabolic and Sickle Cell Disorders Program
Newborn Genetics Screening Advisory Committee
Background
In March of 1999, a select review team sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Genetic Services Branch reviewed the NBS Program at the invitation of the Division of Public Health. This review team recommended that Georgia develop an advisory council with oversight and advisory responsibility for the entire program.
In 1999, the Governor's Council on Maternal and Infant Health (M& I Council) established the Newborn Genetics Screening Advisory Committee as a committee of the Council. The Advisory Committee held its first meeting in February 2000.
Purpose/Role
The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to advise the Division of Public Health on a statewide system for genetics newborn screening.
The role of the Advisory Committee is to:
- Contribute specific expertise to ongoing newborn screening
system
- Laboratory methodologies and turn around time
- Cut-off values for test results
- Follow-up and tracking methods
- Electronic data entry
- Unsatisfactory samples
- Facilitate support of statewide physicians, hospitals, and consumers
- Increase awareness of NBS to colleagues through meetings, newsletters, etc.
- Involve colleagues and others by requesting opinions, feedback, etc.
- Promote Voice Response System for access to test results
- Enhance credibility of NBS system
- Achieve consensus of diverse expert opinions regarding a multi-faceted system
- Provide advice and recommendations for strategic planning and evaluation of the NBS system
- Assist with data analysis
- Consider new screening techniques, e.g., Tandem Mass Spectrometry for disorders of fatty acid oxidation and organic acidemias
- Consider screening for additional disorders, e.g., biotinidase deficiency and cystic fibrosis
2010 Meeting Schedule
Meetings are held quarterly at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory, 1749 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.
- January 15, 2010
- April 16, 2010
- July 16, 2010
- October 15, 2010
|
|
