New and Updated Newborn Screening Laboratory Documents CLSI NBS04 and NBS07

Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA—The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute has published two newborn screening documents: CLSI NBS04-Ed2 | Newborn Screening by Tandem Mass Spectrometry and CLSI NBS07-Ed1 | Newborn Blood Spot Screening for Pompe Disease by Lysosomal Acid a-Glucosidase Activity Assays.

Newborn Screening by Tandem Mass Spectrometry (CLSI NBS04-Ed2) 

To update laboratories on the routine use of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the detection of certain metabolic disorders using dried blood spot specimens, CLSI has published Newborn Screening by Tandem Mass Spectrometry (CLSI NBS04-Ed2).

CLSI NBS04 describes:

• Preparation procedures for reagents, specimens, standards, and controls
• Calibration (both instrument and analyte)
• Standardization
• Control acceptance criteria
• Disorder profiles (interpretation of MS/MS spectra)
• External effects on results
• Results reporting
• Second-tier testing
• Follow-up recommendations

Newborn Blood Spot Screening for Pompe Disease by Lysosomal Acid a-Glucosidase Activity Assays (CLSI NBS07-Ed1)

To inform newborn screening laboratories about current methods used to detect Pompe Disease using dried blood spot (DBS) specimens, CLSI has published Newborn Blood Spot Screening for Pompe Disease by Lysosomal Acid a-Glucosidase Activity Assays (CLSI NBS07-Ed1).

Pompe disease (PD) is a congenital clinical disorder not evident at birth that is due to GAA deficiency. Early detection is critical, because without treatment, most babies with classic infantile-onset PD will die from cardiorespiratory failure. A laboratory operations overview detailing the physical layout, instrumentation, assay protocols, automated methodologies, and the potential for future expansion is included.

The document discusses steps for implementing PD newborn DBS screening, including: 

• Validating the laboratory test
• Conducting pilot studies
• Transitioning to routine screening

For more information about Newborn Screening products, contact CustomerService@clsi.org or +1.610.688.0100.

About Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)

CLSI sets the standard for quality in medical laboratory testing. A not-for-profit membership organization, CLSI brings together the global laboratory community for the advancement of a common cause: to foster excellence in laboratory medicine.

For nearly 50 years, our members, volunteers, and customers have made CLSI a respected, transformative leader in the development and implementation of medical laboratory testing standards. Through our unified efforts, we will continue to set and uphold the standards that drive quality test results, enhance patient care delivery, and improve health care around the world.

By using CLSI standards, laboratorians can improve process quality, speed the development of standard operating procedures, and implement safer practices with greater ease and efficiency.