skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Stored Guthrie cards as DNA [open quotes]Banks[close quotes]

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 newborn-screening laboratories can thus be viewed as inchoate [open quotes]DNA banks[close quotes]. 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 they permit the sharing of those cards with various third parties. The authors found 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. They also found that although most laboratories would decline to release individually identifiable blood spots from the cards to third parties without a written release or other explicit authorization, a large number would at least consider sharing anonymous cards for research purposes. 10 refs., 2 tabs.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center for Mental Retardation, Waltham, MA (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6789366
DOE Contract Number:  
FG02-91ER61237
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
American Journal of Human Genetics; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 55:1; Journal ID: ISSN 0002-9297
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; GENETIC MAPPING; ETHICAL ASPECTS; MAPPING; 550400* - Genetics

Citation Formats

McEwen, J E, and Reilly, P R. Stored Guthrie cards as DNA [open quotes]Banks[close quotes]. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
McEwen, J E, & Reilly, P R. Stored Guthrie cards as DNA [open quotes]Banks[close quotes]. United States.
McEwen, J E, and Reilly, P R. 1994. "Stored Guthrie cards as DNA [open quotes]Banks[close quotes]". United States.
@article{osti_6789366,
title = {Stored Guthrie cards as DNA [open quotes]Banks[close quotes]},
author = {McEwen, J E and Reilly, P R},
abstractNote = {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 newborn-screening laboratories can thus be viewed as inchoate [open quotes]DNA banks[close quotes]. 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 they permit the sharing of those cards with various third parties. The authors found 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. They also found that although most laboratories would decline to release individually identifiable blood spots from the cards to third parties without a written release or other explicit authorization, a large number would at least consider sharing anonymous cards for research purposes. 10 refs., 2 tabs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6789366}, journal = {American Journal of Human Genetics; (United States)},
issn = {0002-9297},
number = ,
volume = 55:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994},
month = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994}
}