- (a) The department shall maintain an active system of follow-up for suspected cases of each disorder for which screens are required.
- (b) Health authorities, public health departments, public health districts, and the department's health service regions may provide follow-up and other needed assistance for individuals at risk from the disorders for which screens are required as requested by the department.
- (c) The provider submitting the newborn screening specimen shall assist the department with follow-up of individuals at risk for the disorders listed in §37.53 of this title (relating to Disorders for Which Newborn Screens are Required).
- (d) The department will identify pediatric specialists in the state who are available to provide consultation to physicians or health care practitioners regarding the diagnosis and management of newborns with abnormal screens. If a screening test indicates that a newborn child is at high risk, Newborn Screening Program staff shall provide the physician or health care practitioner with the names of consultants in the health care practitioner's geographic area. The program may provide information about abnormal screening results to the pediatric specialists who consult with the department.
- (e) Physicians or health care practitioners shall report to the department all confirmed cases of the disorders for which required screens are performed that have been detected by other mechanisms.
- (f) The department will collect epidemiologic data from information in the specimen collection kits and other sources to derive incidence/prevalence rates for the disorders for which screens are required. The data may enable the department to identify high-risk population groups, with the ultimate goal of preventing severe sequelae of the disorders.
- (g) The department may follow up with a confirmed case through periodic data collection from the physician or health care practitioner or parent, managing conservator, or guardian.
- (h) The department shall maintain a registry of children born in Texas who have been diagnosed as having one of the disorders for which screens are required.
Source Note:The provisions of this §37.58 adopted to be effective November 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 8835.