RESUMEN
Newborn screening (NBS) laboratories cannot accurately compare mass spectrometry-derived results and cutoff values due to differences in testing methodologies. The objective of this study was to assess harmonization of laboratory proficiency test (PT) results using quality control (QC) data. Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) QC and PT data reported from 302 laboratories in 2019 were used to compare results among laboratories. QC materials were provided as dried blood spot cards which included a base pool and the base pool enriched with specific concentrations of metabolites in a linear range. QC data reported by laboratories were regressed on QC data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and laboratory's regression parameters were used to harmonize their PT result. In general, harmonization tended to reduce overall variation in PT data across laboratories. The metabolites glutarylcarnitine (C5DC), tyrosine, and phenylalanine were displayed to highlight inter- and intra-method variability in NBS results. Several limitations were identified using retrospective data for harmonization, and future studies will address these limitations to further assess feasibility of using NSQAP QC data to harmonize PT data. Harmonizing NBS data using common QC materials appears promising to aid result comparison between laboratories.
RESUMEN
In this study, we conducted a survey of primary care physicians in Arkansas to assess their attitudes about the HPV vaccine as well as to expose possible barriers that physicians encounter when prescribing or administering the HPV vaccine. Questionnaires were sent to 1,470 primary care physicians in Arkansas. Of those dispersed, 300 questionnaires were used for data analysis. Cost and perceived low compliance to the dosing schedule of the HPV vaccine are significant barriers to HPV administration. This study suggests that vaccine funding for patients and physicians is a primary issue and steps must be taken to increase affordability.