Lab Matters Fall 2023 | Page 46

APHL 2023 POSTER ABSTRACTS

Data from participant questionnaires are carefully reviewed by inhouse subject matter experts ( SMEs ) to help deliver a personalized interpretation for reducing personal exposure without invoking panic in the participants or losing scientific credibility . We closely followed CLIA guidelines to choose the language used in the report to avoid misuse considering our unique position as a state laboratory . Of the 106 consented participants to date , 66 partial reports have been distributed , and ~ 4.5 % of those who received their partial report have responded with interest in how their exposure levels may influence their health , body burden levels , and potential exposure sources around the household . We followed up with two elevated levels that were higher than the health limits by initiating a conference call with the participant and SMEs to explain the levels observed , go over participant ’ s potential exposure sources documented in the questionnaire survey , and mandatory reporting to state agencies required by state law . NJHANES has yet to receive a negative response following the dissemination of participant results . We are developing a graphical interpretation among both the NJHANES population and the reference US population to aid participant understanding and will be included in the final report packet and presentation . A post-survey will be added to NJHANES to evaluate participant attitudes towards all aspects of the study , including the reporting format . These approaches for the report packets were carefully designed to encourage interest , build trust , and promote the public health on environmental exposures .

Presenter : Colleen Donohoe , colleendonohoe3 @ gmail . com

Determining the Effects of Hemolysis on PFAS Concentrations in Blood Samples

J . Lynch , B . Clark , E . Mullin ; New York State Department of Health , Wadsworth Center

Background : Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS ) are man-made organic compounds . They are widely used in consumer products and persist in the environment . There are thousands of PFAS , and studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS may be harmful to humans and animals . New York State Department of Health , Wadsworth Center has an analytical method for analyzing several PFAS in human serum . Hemolysis is a common problem in clinical samples . It is the result of the breakdown of red blood cells . In vivo , hemolysis can occur due to medical abnormalities or dehydration . In harvested plasma / serum samples , it is more common for hemolysis to occur because of sample collection or storage errors . The current laboratory protocol rejects grossly hemolyzed samples . A quantitative level of hemolysis that effects accuracy of PFAS results is not established . Studies have shown that hemolysis can either artificially dilute analyte concentrations or cause matrix interference . The Center for Disease Control has a hemolysis reference palette to determine quality of plasma / serum samples based on visual inspection . This method can be subjective and there are no specific rejection criteria for PFAS analysis . Project Aims : The aims of the project are to develop a quantitative method for measuring hemolysis level in serum samples and to establish hemolysis rejection criteria for serum PFAS testing . Methods : A method was developed and optimized to measure the extent of hemolysis . Linear calibration from 0 – 2000 mg / dL was established by multipoint standard addition in human plasma .

Heme concentrations were determined colorimetrically at 540 nm following sample incubation with Drabkin ’ s reagent . Archived and de-identified whole blood samples were harvested for plasma . Hemolysis levels were measured , and plasma was analyzed for target PFAS using extraction and instrumentation methods currently utilized for routine testing at Wadsworth Center . Briefly , sample matrix was spiked with mass labeled internal standards . Samples were extracted to remove phospholipids and proteins and were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry . Next Steps : PFAS concentrations from paired whole blood , serum , and plasma samples with varying levels of hemolysis will be analyzed . The effect of hemolysis on PFAS concentration will be investigated . A rejection criterion for hemolysis will be established based on statistical analysis of paired PFAS results .

Presenter : Janet Lynch , janet . lynch @ health . ny . gov

Establishing a State Public Health Testing Specimen Bank for Future Analysis of De-Identified Clinical Data and use of Associated Datasets

E . Mercado , M . Chatterjee , B . Wallace , M . Josefiak and K . Bush ; New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Biomonitoring is the measurement of chemicals in the human body from environmental sources such as air , water , soil and food . This has been an important branch of study at the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratory ( NH PHL ) due to specific chemical contaminants from the state ’ s local geology , land-usage , historical and current industrial activities . In investigating these chemicals , biomonitoring can help explain the relationship between chemical exposure , body burden and human health . The NH PHL has over 300 donated specimens from the 2019 New Hampshire Tracking and Assessment of Chemical Exposures ( TrACE ) Study , a surveillance study that tested for 50 different chemicals in whole blood , urine and serum in residents across the state . By the end of summer 2023 , BiomonitoringNH intends to launch a public health testing specimen bank at the NH PHL . To guide the development of a de-identified specimen bank , a policy and procedure is necessary . Participants indicated on their TrACE study consent forms whether they wanted their specimens to be destroyed at the end of the study or retained for future scientific use . To act on these elections and to ensure participant confidentiality and proper handling of all specimens and associated data , the policy and procedure created will outline specimen de-identification , tracking , storage and disposal as well as data retention guidelines . The creation of a public health testing specimen bank for the state of NH will support the generation and integration of high-quality environmental and public health datasets . This will include not only biomonitoring data , environmental testing data , epidemiological assessment data , and health indicator data , but infectious disease surveillance data as well . The existence of a state public health testing specimen bank and related datasets will provide other programs and organizations , such as neighboring states and academic partners , an opportunity to explore public health data in new ways as needs and interests arise in public health .

Presenter : Edith Mercado , edith . mercado @ affiliate . dhhs . nh . gov