The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) Environmental Health Division has been awarded $51,000 by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) to support development of a test method for PFAS in human serum. The ability to assess exposure to PFAS in the Wisconsin population is currently a gap that the funding will help to fill.

The analytical method will be based on the CDC NHANES method, will be CLIA-compliant, and is expected to capture over 30 individual PFAS compounds. The work will be performed by the WSLH Chemical Emergency Response (CER) program, with an early autumn 2020 target date.

This effort features partnerships with the WI Dept. of Health Services (WDHS) and the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW).  Appropriate medical interpretation of the data is a critical component of exposure assessment, and WDHS will provide that. Once the method is in place, award funds will be used to obtain a large set of archived SHOW serum specimens. The testing of these specimens will allow the assessment of historic PFAS exposure in the WI population, and allow the evaluation of exposure trends as prospective data are generated.

Some of the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene scientists performing COVID-19 virus testing for the state with a reminder to Stay Safer at Home.

 

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene Communicable Disease Division has posted information for clinical laboratories and local health departments about COVID-19 virus testing.

Topics covered include:

• Testing Approval
• Specimens
• Packaging and Shipping
• Test Results
• Biosafety Considerations
• Other Resources

Links

WSLH COVID-19 Virus Testing

Wisconsin Division of Public Health COVID-19 information

CDC COVID-19 information

 

Please note the following changes to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s operations due to the observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

The table below lists the hours of operations for our Clinical Specimen Receiving departments.

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

 

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.