APHL 2023 POSTER ABSTRACTS the state of Hawai ’ i has assisted in interpretation of this data for public health officials and the community to better understand the prevalence and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Hawai ’ i .
Presenter : Maria Steadmon , steadmon @ hawaii . edu
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION
A Prevention Plan for Laboratory-Acquired Burnout Modeled on the BMBL
M . Akre , B . Van ; J . Michael Consulting
The first report of a laboratory-acquired infection ( LAI ) was in 1885 Unfortunately not uncommon , the laboratory community developed engineering and administrative controls and personal protective equipment to minimize risk . Here we propose using the principles outlined in the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories ( BMBL ) to mitigate the risks of burnout . Laboratoryacquired burnout ( LAB ) prevention will be described using the same methods that were successful in allowing today ’ s laboratories to safely work with pathogenic agents .
Presenter : Monica Akre , makre @ jmichael-consulting . com
Data Modernization and Internships in the New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories 2019-2022
S . Patel 1 , N . Hampton 2 , H . Cheung 1 , J . Mulligan 1 , A . Oyelade 1 , L . Heidenberg 3 , S . Penumatcha 4 , S . Ritchie 4 , J . Ochal 1 , P . Ma 1 , M . Schachter 1 , S . Mikorski 5 , R . Finney 1 , R . Siderits 1 , T . Kirn 1 ; 1 New Jersey Department of Health Public Health and Environmental Laboratories , 2 Montclair State University , 3 New Jersey Department of Health - Office of Disaster Resilience , 4 New Jersey Department of Health - Office of Health Information Technology
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances ( PFAS ) are a large group of manufactured chemicals that are persistent and potentially hazardous . PFAS is tested in human serum with high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry ( HPLC-MS / MS ), typically after solid phase extraction ( SPE ). Although it can be challenging , resource intense and time consuming , SPE is deemed necessary in this instance . In our lab , SPE is performed online system . A major limitation of this approach is that sample preparation occurs sequentially before sample injection , therefore limiting throughput . The main goal of this project is to improve the sample throughput of the SPE system by offline automation , where samples are prepared concurrently using a 96 well plate format using a Janus automated liquid handler . The proposed off-line SPE has been successfully deployed by others on various platforms . Sample pre-treatment was deemed the most crucial in eliminating analyte recoveries . The SPE will be conducted on weak anion extraction ( WAX ) stationary phase . The automated procedure includes sample pre-treatment : Combine 50 µ l , 150 µ l Acetonitrile and internal standard , load the supernatant to the SPE plate after conditioning and washing before sample elution . The new automated offline SPE sample preparation method is expected to enable the lab to prepare PFAS samples from 48 aliquot of 50 μl human serum in less than two hours for analysis of the 18 PFAS .
Meanwhile , the accuracy of the further LC-MS / MS analysis must be within ± 30 % of nominal value or 3 times of STD value .
Presenter : Satyam Patel , satyam . patel @ doh . nj . gov
Development of Unit-Specific , Electronic Training Plans for Onboarding Laboratory Staff
S . J . Snider , A . Dakan ; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment State Laboratory
At the beginning of 2020 , the Colorado State Lab at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ( CDPHE ) was designing training plans to track the onboarding of new staff . When the COVID-19 pandemic hit , the State Lab prioritized responding to cases and protecting Coloradans . Faced with hiring more than 200 new staff in an all-hands-on-deck situation , a paper training plan in a generic , lab-wide format was implemented . Since then , feedback from staff , as well as some instances of nonconforming work related to improper training , have highlighted the weaknesses of the training plan : ( 1 ) the paper format creates barriers to efficient documentation and record retention ; ( 2 ) the template is not easily customizable to individual units or staff members ; and ( 3 ) the plan lacks clarity on what is required of a staff member before they can perform testing activities on customer samples . Working with management staff from each unit at the laboratory , the Quality Assurance Coordinator and Quality Assurance Fellow at the State Lab are now developing new training plans . The new plans are in an electronic format to provide accessibility to all staff — whether working remote , on-site or hybrid — and streamline the process of accessing , documenting and retaining training records . In addition , the training plans are individualized to each unit to contain all relevant quality management system ( QMS ) documents , as well as a list of all standard operating procedures ( SOPs ) used by the unit . Finally , the new plans employ a color-coded system for tracking completion of all training activities , including initial competency assessments , to provide clarity on which testing activities each staff member is authorized and competent to perform . The development of the new training plans is still in progress , but all feedback from management staff to date has been positive , including multiple comments on the marked improvement that the new format will provide . The State Lab is carefully designing training plans — an essential component of the quality management system — so that the onboarding of new staff is accessible , thorough and complete .
Presenter : Samantha Snider , ssnider00 @ gmail . com
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Workforce Development Preferences
S . Marcellus 1 , W . Lee 2 , L . Kurimski 3 , S . Parnian 3 ; 1 Texas Department of State Health Services , 2 New York State Department of Health , Wadsworth Center , 3 Association of Public Health Laboratories
In a survey of 416 public health laboratorians with five or less years of experience in the field , respondents reported that online courses are the preferred form of professional development . APHL ’ s Recruitment and Retention Strategic Implementation Group ( R & R SIG ) administered a survey to assess how the pandemic changed workforce development and job recruitment preferences . In a 2018 pre-pandemic Training Needs Assessment , classroom learning , seminars , in-person group activities , workshops and webinars were
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