STORED GUTHRIE CARDS AS DNA BANKS

Citation
Je. Mcewen et Pr. Reilly, STORED GUTHRIE CARDS AS DNA BANKS, American journal of human genetics, 55(1), 1994, pp. 196-200
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Genetics & Heredity
ISSN journal
00029297
Volume
55
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
196 - 200
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-9297(1994)55:1<196:SGCADB>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
Recently there has been much discussion about the possibility of using dried blood spots on Guthrie cards as a source of DNA for research or testing purposes. The collections of Guthrie cards stored by state ne wborn-screening laboratories can thus be viewed as inchoate ''DNA bank s.'' This has generated concern among some persons who are interested in preserving the privacy of medical records. This study examines the policies of state newborn-screening laboratories in the United States, regarding their retention of Guthrie cards and the degree to which th ey permit the sharing of those cards with various third parties. We fo und that although most laboratories retain their cards, if at all, for only a short time, a growing number plan to keep them for an extended period-and, in several cases, indefinitely. We also found that althou gh most laboratories would decline to release individually identifiabl e blood spots from the cards to third parties without a written releas e or other explicit authorization, a large number would at least consi der sharing anonymous cards for research purposes.