The Issues

PulseNet and Foodborne Disease Surveillance:  A Critial National Priority:  Approved April 2007

Recommends that HHS elevate PulseNet laboratory and associated epidemiology activities to a higher level in its food safety priorities and fund the program accordingly.

HIV Rapid Testing:  Approved June 2005

Supports rapid HIV testing in settings where turn-around time dictates immediate patient management decisions and where clients often do not return for testing results, provided that it is concurrent with the implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive quality assurance program at the testing site, to include appropriate training, quality control and competency evaluation.

Technology Transfer from Federal Agencies to Public Health Laboratories:  Approved March 26, 2004

Supports the rapid development and timely transfer of technology and expertise from federal agencies to public health laboratories to assure standardized methods for screening, testing and confirmation for agents of emergent public health significance.

Use of Non-Culture Assays to Detect Communicable Infectious Agents:  Approved June 10, 2001

Despite the recognized need for rapid non-culture assay methods for individual patient care, all positive results from such tests must be confirmed by additional analyses performed on an isolate of the pathogenic organism. Confirmation enables public health practitioners to trace disease sources, develop intervention strategies, and eliminate threats to the health of the community.

Residual Newborn Screening (NBS) Specimens:  Approved June 2005

Supports the development of national consensus policies, procedures and standards for retaining residual dried blood spot specimens following newborn screening analysis. These policies and procedures must recognize existing federal regulations for clinical testing, state laws, professional guidelines and ethical and legal precedents.

Quality Assurance in a Newborn Screening Laboratory:  Approved April 2005

Supports the intense efforts to assure and sustain the highest quality of testing possible for newborn screening for public health programs.

The Role of the Private Laboratory Sector in Public Health Newborn Screening Programs:  Approved June 5, 2002

Screening of newborns for treatable congenital conditions is a public health program that gives states the statutory or regulatory authority to mandate screening. These screening programs require that the laboratory testing involved be carefully controlled by the state public health agencies responsible for these programs.

Parental Consent in Public Health Newborn Screening Programs:  Approved June 5, 2002

Clarifies that explicit parental consent is not necessary for mandated public health newborn screening when the panel of screened-for conditions is limited to those of medical consequence which, when detected in the newborn period, can be treated so as to limit the medical consequences of the condition.