WXOW-TV in La Crosse aired an in-depth story about PFAS contamination in water. WSLH Organic Chemistry Supervisor Erin Mani and Advanced Chemist Brandon Shelton were interviewed about the WSLH’s efforts to develop methods to test for PFAS in a wide variety of matrices.

Watch the story at https://wxow.com/2019/12/30/digging-deeper-pfas-water-contamination/

Using cutting-edge 21st century science to reveal secrets of ancient history, WSLH Post-Doctoral Research Associate Sean Scott, along with Martin Shafer, Joel Overdier (WSLH), Phil Farrell (UWSMPH) and international collaborators published research in the journal Archaeometry showing elevated lead levels in Roman residents of ancient Londinium. Testing for the research was performed in the WSLH Trace Elements Clean Lab.

Scott with his fellow researchers looked at lead levels in ancient thigh bones (1st to 3rd century AD) buried in the settlement of Londinium. They found exceedingly high lead levels, which did not come from being buried with lead grave goods or in lead coffins. The potential for negative health effects and even potential population decline due to widespread elevated lead levels could have impacts on our understanding of this ancient Roman community.

The research was written about in:

Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2019/11/29/archaeological-skeletons-from-london-prove-some-romans-were-lead-poisoned/

Chemistry World – https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/londinium-romans-blood-lead-levels-so-high-they-may-have-lowered-birth-rates/4010808.article

WSLH Forensic Toxicology Director Amy Miles was elected President-Elect of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) at its annual meeting. Amy will promote to SOFT President in 2021.

SOFT is a professional organization composed of ~ 2,000 practicing forensic toxicologists and those interested in the discipline for the purpose of promoting and developing forensic toxicology. Through its annual meetings and Journal of Analytical Toxicology, the Society provides a forum for the exchange of information and ideas among toxicology professionals.

WSLH Medical Director and Disease Prevention Division Director and UW Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dr. Dan Kurtycz was installed as President of the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC).

ASC, founded in 1951, is a distinguished national professional society of 3,000+ physicians, cytotechnologists and scientists who are dedicated to the cytologic method of diagnostic pathology. The ASC’s diverse membership includes representatives from other countries who share a vision of education, research and continuous improvement in the standards and quality of patient care. The ASC is a unique society that provides a forum where physicians and cytotechnologists can interact and network with each other on both a personal and professional level. ASC is dedicated to education, research, and most importantly patient advocacy.

Please note the following changes to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s operations due to the observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The table below lists the hours of operations for our Clinical Specimen Receiving department. We will have staffing to accept clinical specimens at both our 2601 Agriculture Drive and our 465 Henry Mall facilities.

As always, if you have an off-hours emergency, please call the WSLH Emergency Pager at 608-263-3280.

 

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) scientists in the Communicable Disease Division and the Newborn Screening Laboratory published articles in the latest supplement to Public Health Reports – Advancing the Public Health Laboratory System through Outreach and Partnerships.

The collection of articles written by state and federal scientists covers a range of topics including laboratory systems and training, global health, laboratory response and infectious diseases, food safety and outbreak response, and newborn screening.

WSLH-authored articles include:

Strengthening Public Health in Wisconsin Through the Wisconsin Clinical Laboratory Network
Allen C. Bateman, PhD, MPH, Erin J. Bowles, BS, Erik Munson, PhD, Raymond P. Podzorski, PhD, Eric T. Beck, PhD, Richard Dern, MS, Alana K. Sterkel, PhD, David M. Warshauer, PhD, Peter A. Shult, PhD

Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders: Early Identification and Long-Term Care for Patients in the Plain Community, Wisconsin, 2011-2017
Patrice K. Held, PhD , Gregory M. Rice, MD, Ashley Kuhl, CGC, Nicoletta Drilias, RD, Mei Baker, MD, James Deline, MD, Gretchen Spicer, BS, Claire Sandrock, BS, Christine M. Seroogy, MD, Jessica Scott Schwoerer, MD

Public Health Reports is the official journal of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service. The journal is peer-reviewed and publishes original research, reviews, and commentaries related to public health practice and methodology, public health law, and teaching at schools and programs of public health.

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene will be closed on Thursday, November 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Our Specimen Receiving departments will observe the following hours of operation for the Thanksgiving holiday:

 

 

 

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) and the UW Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology are pleased to sponsor a talk by Jean Patel, PhD, D(ABMM) a highly respected expert in drug resistance.

Dr. Patel’s work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implementing the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network has greatly enhanced national capacity to monitor and detect antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Patel has chaired the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Subcommittee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and works with the World Health Organization to strengthen global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Patel currently works in Principal Scientific Affairs, Microbiology at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.

Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: A Treatment Forecast

Speaker: Jean Patel, PhD, D(ABMM), Principal Scientific Affairs, Microbiology at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics

Date/Time: Friday, November 22, 2019, from Noon-1 PM

Location: Room 1520, Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Drive

 

The WSLH Communicable Disease Division received the top score amongst laboratories vying for renewal of National Influenza Reference Center (NIRC) status and funding.

As top scorer, the WSLH will be the sole national influenza reference center in the summer, as well as one of three during influenza season.

One of the reviewers commented on the WSLH renewal proposal, “An exceptional application overall with key strengths across all categories, little to no weaknesses.”

NIRCs are funded by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), in cooperation with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Influenza Division (ID), to support national influenza surveillance initiatives. NIRCs serve as an extension of the CDC ID Virology Surveillance and Diagnosis Branch (VSDB) and provide services that are complementary to those at CDC based on methods and protocols provided by APHL and CDC. Services provided by the reference centers include: 1) influenza virus isolation and propagation; 2) antiviral resistance testing; and 3) genomic sequencing using next generation sequencing (NGS).

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel recently published an article about Dr. James DeLine’s work with Amish communities in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene Genetics and Newborn Screening departments were featured in a follow-up article from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on how UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Partnership Program are helping Dr. DeLine’s efforts.

UW-Madison article – 21st century medicine helps Amish deal with rare, inherited illnesses