Please note the following changes to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s operations for the July 4th holiday.

As always, if you have an off-hours emergency, please call the WSLH Emergency Pager at 608-263-3280.

 

A new study published in the academic journal Environmental Research Letters, reveals that the environmental impact of the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train accident in East Palestine, Ohio covered a very large geographical area. Inorganic pollutants released due to the accident were found in wet weather downfall (wet deposition) from the Midwest through the Northeast reaching as far as southern Canada and North Carolina. The findings are significant as many inorganic pollutants in rain and snow have chemical effects on aquatic flora and fauna. According to the paper, these pollutants spread over at least portions of 16 states and an area of 1.4 million square kilometers.

Researchers from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were able to estimate the spatial extent and chemical elements deposited resulting from the incident by using precipitation chemistry measurements routinely collected by the National Atmospheric Deposition Programs (NADP) National Trends Network (NTN), which makes routine wet weather measurements at 260 sites across North America.

The train accident and the subsequent fire resulted in the release of many different pollutants into the atmosphere over several days, which the NADP researchers were able to track in precipitation.

Lead researcher and coordinator of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), which has been monitoring pollution deposited across North America in precipitation for over 40 years, David Gay, says: “Our measurements not only show the expected high chloride concentrations, but also the vast geographical area they covered. However, even more surprising are the unexpectedly high pH levels (more basic) and exceptionally elevated alkali and alkaline earth metals, exceeding the 99th percentiles of the last ten years of measurements. All of these pollutants are important in the environment because their accumulation has an impact on the Earth’s aquatic and terrestrial environments in many ways.”

“This study demonstrates the important role of a nationwide network for routine precipitation monitoring,” says Dr. Gay. “Our observations allowed us to determine the regional atmospheric impact from the accident and subsequent response activities.”

While the current NADP networks do not quantify organic compounds that might be more specific tracers of the train cargo, the documented widespread impacts on precipitation suggest a significant amount of chemical pollution falling to the earth’s surface as a result of the accident.

Journal article

 

In 2023, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene embarked on a new program hosting 17 undergraduate summer interns as part of the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Public Health Laboratory Internship Program. This summer we have 18 – and one of last year’s interns was hired for a full-time job at the WSLH.

APHL wrote about the WSLH’s experiences with the program in the latest issue of Lab Matters magazine

Learn more about the APHL Public Health Laboratory Internship Program

In this talk, WSLH Senior Data Scientist Dr. Kelsey Florek discusses how the bioinformatics team in the WSLH Communicable Disease Division is:

• Developing new tools and strategies to enhance genomic data driven insights
• Building genomic data analytics capacity through advanced data workflows automation and new cloud-based resources
• Contributing to a national bioinformatics strategy across public health laboratories in the U.S.

Watch the recording

WSLH Data Portal

Wastewater professionals across the state were honored today as Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers proclaimed May 22, 2024 Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day.

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene Director and University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of civil and environmental engineering Jamie Schauer spoke at a celebratory event held at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District today reminding guests about the vital role that wastewater professionals play in protecting the health of Wisconsinites.

Wastewater professionals have been crucial in partnering with the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences to implement the Wisconsin Wastewater Surveillance Program.

In 2023, the Wisconsin program was named a CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) Center of Excellence, one of only four in the country.

DHS News release about the proclamation

 

Please note the following changes to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s operations due to the observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

The table below lists the hours of operations for our Clinical Specimen Receiving departments.

As always, if you have an off-hours emergency, please call the WSLH Emergency Pager at 608-263-3280.

 

 

The recent discontinuation of a key reagent in our Measles IgM assay has necessitated a temporary halt in Measles IgM testing at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. We will continue to offer Measles PCR and Measles IgG testing as needed with no change in ordering or time to results. Please refer to the CDC Test recommendation for test guidance.

We are actively addressing this issue and are currently engaged in identifying a new test method that will meet the needs of our patients and providers. During this transition period, specimens submitted to WSLH for Measles IgM testing will be forwarded to another reputable reference laboratory for analysis. This arrangement ensures continued access to accurate testing. This change will not result in additional charges. There will also be no change to the test ordering and results reporting processes.

While every effort will be made to minimize the impact, please be aware that specimens may experience a delay in results as we manage this situation. We anticipate that Measles IgM results will be available within 4-7 days of submission.

Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service department at 1-800-862-1013, available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm CST.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this temporary slowdown in turnaround time may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this transition. Thank you for your continued trust in the WSLH.

Measles IgM Test Change Announcement memo

In 2018, the U.S. State Department appointed WSLH Director and UW Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Jamie Schauer as a Science Envoy for Air Quality, highlighting American scientific strategies and technologies for mitigating poor air quality with a focus on South Asia.

In this talk to WSLH staff Schauer highlights how his work as a U.S. Science Envoy and his decades-long international research activities show how science can be used to bridge political differences to help people in communities all over the world.

Watch the recording

The University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics, in conjunction with the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), UW Health and Prevention Genetics, has produced a video highlighting the unique features of the Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship program in Wisconsin.

The ACGME-accredited laboratory genetics and genomics (LGG) fellowship prepares individuals with a doctoral degree (PhD, MD or DO) to function as a LGG laboratory director. At the end of the two year fellowship, fellows may complete the American Board of Medical Genetics’ General Genetics and LGG examinations.

This program is offered in collaboration with the UW Cytogenetic Service and Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene; the UW Department of Pediatrics, UW Health, and PreventionGenetics, Inc. in Marshfield, Wisconsin. This unique relationship with the partner labs provides fellows with a broad range of clinical genetic testing experience, using state-of-the-art methods and in a variety of environments.

Watch the LGG Fellowship video

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought a film crew to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene in March 2023 for a video shoot in the Communicable Disease Division to create a series of videos about the national Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network, for which the WSLH serves as a regional laboratory. The videos were recently published to YouTube.

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