Oklahoma's Newborn Screening Program Continues to Grow

By Sharon Vaz

By the end of May, Oklahoma will begin screening for all of the amino acid disorders recommended by the March of Dimes (MOD) and the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG). The Newborn Screening Lab and Newborn Screening Follow-up Program anticipate they will begin reporting the additional fatty acid oxidation disorders and organic acid disorders in July and September of 2008, respectively. The Metabolic Workgroup of the Oklahoma Genetics Advisory Council (OGAC) has met monthly over the past months to guide this process.

In preparation for expansion, Oklahoma recently added an additional RN position to their follow-up staff. The RN Special Populations Nurse will assist with follow-up activities, but primarily focus on the follow-up needs of special populations, such as sick or premature infants identified “at risk” for a disorder. Long-term follow-up positions were established several years ago in preparation for expansion. The newborn screening laboratory also established a new clinical laboratory scientist position to accommodate the testing and reporting of additional disorders. Finally, this past year, Oklahoma welcomed a new metabolic specialist, Michael Kayser D.O., to Tulsa.

Pam King, MPA, RN, State Genetics Coordinator, recently retired. Oklahoma is thankful for her leadership, provided over the past 15 years. Her dedication has left Oklahoma with a strong and vibrant newborn screening program. We will continue to work diligently to protect the newborns of Oklahoma through newborn screening.