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D Hassemer

Publications and source records attributed to D Hassemer.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in Wisconsin: comparison of biochemical and molecular methods.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF), including study of the screening procedures and characteristics of false-positive infants, over the past 10 years in Wisconsin. An important objective evolving from the original design has been to compare use of a single-tier immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) screening method with that of a two-tier method using IRT and analyses of samples for the most common cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) (DeltaF508) mutation. We also examined the benefit of including up to 10 additional CFTR mutations in the screening protocol. METHODS: From 1985 to 1994, using either the IRT or IRT/DNA protocol, 220 862 and 104 308 neonates, respectively, were screened for CF. For the IRT protocol, neonates with an IRT >/=180 ng/mL were considered positive, and the standard sweat chloride test was administered to determine CF status. For the IRT/DNA protocol, samples from the original dried-blood specimen on the Guthrie card of neonates with an IRT >/=110 ng/mL were tested for the presence of the DeltaF508 CFTR allele, and if the DNA test revealed one or two DeltaF508 alleles, a sweat test was obtained. RESULTS: Both screening procedures had very high specificity. The sensitivity tended to be higher with the IRT/DNA protocol, but the differences were not statistically significant. The positive predictive value of the IRT/DNA screening protocol was 15.2% compared with 6.4% if the same samples had been screened by the IRT method. Assessment of the false-positive IRT/DNA population revealed that the two-tier method eliminates the disproportionate number of infants with low Apgar scores and also the high prevalence of African-Americans identified previously in our study of newborns with high IRT levels. We found that 55% of DNA-positive CF infants were homozygous for DeltaF508 and 40% had one DeltaF508 allele. Adding analyses for 10 more CFTR mutations has only a small effect on the sensitivity but is likely to add significantly to the cost of screening. CONCLUSIONS: Advantages of the IRT/DNA protocol over IRT analysis include improved positive predictive value, reduction of false-positive infants, and more rapid diagnosis with elimination of recall specimens.

Apgar Score↗

Application of DNA analysis in a population-screening program for neonatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF): comparison of screening protocols.

We compare two protocols for newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). The first uses the immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) assay with a cutoff of > or = 180 ng/ml and a sweat test to identify CF patients. The second uses the IRT assay with a 100 ng/ml cutoff in conjunction with direct analysis for the delta F508 CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation in a two-tiered (i.e., IRT/DNA) protocol, followed by a sweat test. We screened 220,865 newborns from Wisconsin for CF, using the IRT protocol identifying 369 infants with an elevated IRT, of whom 46 were found to have CF. Another 7 CF patients were identified who had a false-negative IRT level. The CF incidence in the white population was 1 in 3,431 (carrier incidence of 1 in 30). The IRT protocol had a sensitivity of 87% and a positive predictive value of 12.5%. We subsequently used the IRT/DNA protocol to screen 21,258 infants. Of 518 infants with an IRT level > or = 100 ng/ml, 24 carried at least one copy of the delta F508 CFTR mutation, and 4 of these infants were found to have CF, yielding a positive predictive value for this protocol of 16.7%. Direct comparison of the positive predictive value of the two protocols is not valid, because of the different populations screened. However, had the IRT protocol been used on the IRT/DNA cohort, 50 infants, including the 4 with CF, would have received sweat tests, yielding a positive predictive value of 8%. Because of the small sample size, this positive predictive value is not significantly different from that obtained for the IRT/DNA test. However, from a practical point of view the IRT/DNA approach does decrease considerably the number of sweat tests that must be undertaken. The number of false positives for the IRT protocol (46 in 21,258) is increased significantly compared with that for the IRT/DNA approach (20 in 21,258; P < .001). The incidence of delta F508 carriers detected in cohorts with an elevated IRT level was increased compared with the incidence in the general population. The direct costs for the IRT/DNA approach (100 ng/ml) were $11,374 per CF patient detected, compared with $10,187 per CF patient detected for the IRT protocol. Therefore, we conclude that the IRT/DNA approach to CF newborn screening decreases the number of false-positive subjects contacted, without a significant increase in cost.

Analysis of Variance↗

Performance of the Kodak DT-60 physician's office analyzer as measured by CLIA-88 proposed evaluation criteria. Assessment of demographic and quality assurance factors influencing performance.

The 1988 Clinical Laboratories Improvement Act (CLIA-88) proposes to mandate universal proficiency testing and internal quality assurance practices for all laboratories, including those in physician offices. For 3 years, we have provided an independent voluntary proficiency testing program to more than 400 physician office laboratories using Kodak DT-60 analyzers (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY). This unique data set enables us to evaluate, using the CLIA-88 proposed grading criteria, the ability of these laboratories to meet the proposed regulatory standards. Using the equivalent of a year's participation under the CLIA proficiency testing format (20 challenges per analyte), at least 88% would "pass," ie, achieve acceptable performance. We investigated the relationship between proficiency testing performance and several internal quality assurance practices as well as other factors commonly associated with quality performance, including analyst's professional background, monthly test volume, number of physicians served, and source of training on the instrument. The best indicator of successful performance in proficiency testing was on-site training provided by the manufacturer, as opposed to training provided by distributor personnel. We conclude that with proper on-site training and retraining, physician office laboratories will be able to meet the mandatory CLIA-88 proficiency testing requirements.

Calibration↗

Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis in Wisconsin.

Primary care physicians have been very cooperative in referring screened patients to the two designated CF centers in Wisconsin--the University of Wisconsin Cystic Fibrosis Center, and the center at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee--and their help has made this study possible. By 1990, we anticipate that meaningful clinical comparisons between the screened and control groups will be possible, and at that time we can begin to obtain some definitive answers concerning the benefits and potential risks of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis. At this time, it would be premature to make a decision concerning the efficacy of screening for cystic fibrosis for the State of Wisconsin. It is very important that the study go to completion before making conclusive recommendations. We are eager to meticulously document the natural history of CF by following study patients for a long time. Answers to questions concerning rate of decline of the IRT value in true positives, psychosocial risks of screening to true positives, effect on future reproductive plans, and the cost effectiveness of the screening program will not be available for at least two more years. False positive IRT results seem to be related to perinatal asphyxia. We postulate the mechanism is ischemia in the pancreas related to hypoxia during the perinatal period leading to transient release of trypsin from the pancreas into the bloodstream. Decline of the IRT result over time is of great interest because a repeat blood sampling approach would hopefully eliminate several false positives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cystic Fibrosis↗