SILVER SPRING, MD--(Marketwired - Feb 2, 2015) - The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Implementation Awards, funding to support full implementation of SCID newborn screening in states which have not been able to do so. Successful use of these awards will result in approximately 650,000 additional newborns receiving this critical testing.
The following agencies have been selected to receive financial support, training and technical assistance for SCID related activities:
- Alabama Department of Health Bureau of Clinical Laboratories
- Arizona Department of Health Services
- Hawaii Department of Health
- Immune Deficiency Foundation
- Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories
- Kentucky Department for Public Health
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health
- North Dakota Department of Health
- Puerto Rico Newborn Screening Program, University of Puerto Rico
- Tennessee Department of Health Division of Laboratory Services
- Utah Department of Health
Babies born with SCID (also known as "Bubble Boy Disease") lack a functioning immune system and often die within their first year of life if untreated. Early detection through newborn screening allows for life-saving medical intervention. To date, just over half of US states screen for SCID. While many other states have approved the addition of SCID to their newborn screening panel, they have not yet been able to implement screening due to considerable challenges such as integration of new technology, the need for greater laboratory capacity and necessary training within the broader newborn screening system. This additional support will result in 75% of US babies being tested, an increase of 15%.
Funded through a $4 million two-year cooperative agreement with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Genetic Services Branch of the U.S. Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and in close partnership with the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH), the selected agencies will work closely with APHL's Newborn Screening Technical assistance and Evaluation Program (NewSTEPs) for successful implementation of their awards.
This program is 100% funded through Cooperative Agreement # UG5MC27837 from the Health Resources and Services Administration. All publications and presentations are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA.
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public's health in the US and globally. APHL's member laboratories protect the public's health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Michelle Forman
240.485.2793
michelle.forman@aphl.org
