Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110456

Daniel Bender, MHS, Office of Health Services, Mississippi State Department of Health, PO Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, 601 576-7743, dbender@msdh.state.ms.us

Prior to 2003, the Mississippi State Department of Health conducted newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism, galactosemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and sickle cell. In 2003 the legislature mandated comprehensive newborn screening based on recommendations of the state Genetics Advisory Committee. This new law added 33 conditions screened via tandem mass spectrometry—yielding a total of 40 conditions that are screened among newborns. The purpose of this paper is to describe the evolving evidence from the follow-up of the infants screened since the law was enacted. Implementation of the model included creating procedures for follow-up of children with positive screens, creating health education materials, educating hospitals and physicians regarding the change, and creating health department district level teams to case manage children with positive screens. Expanded newborn screening began on June 1, 2003, and 100% of all infants screened have received comprehensive follow-up through the public health system. Mississippi now has one of the most comprehensive statewide newborn screening programs in the nation. An initial concern was how to capture the evidence for documenting test results and the outcomes associated with a team approach to follow-up. This paper provides the initial data on that evidence. Creating a public health system for a statewide approach to follow-up for a comprehensive approach to newborn screening requires multi-faceted strategies to assure protection of the public's health. This approach involves adequate fiscal resources, services and materials for parents, and health department structural changes to provide appropriate follow-up.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the leaner will be able to

• Identify components of comprehensive newborn screening followup
• Describe baseline evidence for determining the effectiveness of newborn screening followup activities

Keywords: Genetics, Neonatal Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.