NEWBORN SCREENING
Virginia Holds First-Ever Newborn Screening
Student Event
by Wanda “Willie” Andrews, BSMT (ASCP), director of laboratory operations, Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services; Leigh-Emma Lion,
MS, newborn screening group manager, Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services; Sari Edelman, MPH, senior specialist, NewSTEPs; and
Ruthanne Sheller, MPH, senior specialist, NewSTEPs
On February 1, the Division of
Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS)
in Richmond, Virginia sponsored a
newborn screening (NBS) event targeted
to seventh and eighth grade students.
The event was designed to increase the
public’s awareness of the NBS system and
of public health careers.
Despite having to postpone the event due
to conflicts around the holiday season,
the planning team successfully recruited
16 students from surrounding schools to
attend the event. Once attendees were
checked in by DCLS staff and security,
they were given event-branded T-shirts
and swag bags, which included NBS and
DCLS educational information.
The morning began with a presentation
by DCLS NBS staff about the importance
and history of NBS and public health
laboratories. Students, volunteers and
parents were asked their favorite subject
in middle school. That question revealed
wide interests and led to discussion of
career paths and opportunities in public
health. Throughout the day, students
engaged in hands-on laboratory science
activities and rotated through four
stations that highlighted various aspects
of the NBS system:
• An escape room that covered specimen
collection, courier transport and
sample accessioning in the laboratory
• A hemoglobin laboratory exercise,
where students read previously run
and stained gels to determine results
• A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
extraction activity in the laboratory
which utilized kits donated by Bio-Rad
• A follow-up exercise where students
role-played scenarios relative to calling
out/receiving results.
Middle schools students participate in hands-on
NBS laboratory science activities
During the event, parents who stayed
were invited to participate in a
comprehensive tour of DLCS’s public
health and environmental laboratory. The
event concluded with a wrap-up of the
day, a competitive quiz to test students’
knowledge and a walk-through of the NBS
laboratory.
Post-event, a survey was distributed to
students and parents thanking them for
attendance, providing several pictures
from the day and requesting feedback
about their experiences. Five parents and
two students responded to the survey,
noting an extremely positive experience
and desire for more opportunities similar
to this event. One parent noted that they
liked “Staff involvement, hands on, and an
overall wonderful event.” n
Advice for Event Planners
The planning team recommends
the following to laboratories that
wish to sponsor a similar event:
Convene a planning team several months
prior to the event. The planning team met
routinely to review recruitment and student
event stations, as well as marketing, volunteer
needs and logistical considerations. Meeting
frequency was increased closer to the event.
Provide as much information as possible
on the invitation. A flyer and Eventbrite link
were disseminated to surrounding schools and
to targeted middle school science teachers.
The Eventbrite page also included security
information and reminders about DCLS
logistics and drop-off.
Confirm attendance. Students and/ or parents
were contacted to confirm registration and
logistics via phone and email.
Work in small groups. Students were
separated into four teams, which allowed for
small, targeted learning sessions.
Assign volunteer roles in advance. APHL
volunteers and DCLS NBS staff accompanied
students throughout the day. They were
assigned roles as group leaders, station
leaders, photographers, registration leaders,
greeters and floaters.
Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and Deparment
of Health staff, along with APHL volunteers, prior to the
students’ arrival
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
APHL.org
Spring 2020 LAB MATTERS 23