Posted on 4/21/2021
In celebration of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 18-23), we are shining the spotlight on Baebies CLIA lab team. Like many lab professionals, their work is often behind-the-scenes but is critical to our company's vision - everyone deserves a healthy start.
Baebies CLIA laboratory performs second tier testing services for newborn screening programs through targeted next generation sequencing (tNGS). Baebies second tier sequencing not only reduces the referral rate but prevents unnecessary family anxiety incurred while awaiting follow-up results and provides a precise genetic characterization to inform referral and treatment decisions.
What motivates our CLIA team? How to they describe what they do to friends? Who are their favorite superheroes? See their faces and learn more:
Viren Amin - Bioinformatics Lead
What makes a good lab team?
A team that is innovative, curious, and customer-focused are the most important qualities that make a good lab team. I am happy to be part of such a team at Baebies.
Looking back a year ago, how has your team’s daily work changed?
Ensuring that we send out clinical reports on time is most critical for our customers. Despite the substantial changes due to the pandemic, we adopted a new form of communications and tackled new challenges while still maintaining our commitment to customers. I truly admire the courage, dedication, and sacrifice that on-site medical lab professionals had to make to ensure timely delivery of the reports and diagnosis for the affected newborns.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love going to trails and spending time with my wife and 4-month old son.
Charlotte Brown - Vice President, Operations
How long have you worked as a medical lab professional?
More than 20 years. I am a board-certified clinical molecular geneticist and have served as a director of clinical molecular diagnostic laboratories.
Looking back a year ago, how has your team’s daily work changed?
Our Clinical Laboratory Scientists are essential workers and came to the lab each day throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure babies and their parents continued to receive potentially life-saving test results. In addition to second tier testing, the CLIA team continues to work on a number of grant-funded research projects and assay optimization studies.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love to go hiking and explore the beauty of nature. One of my favorite locations is the NC Mountains where there are so many amazing trails to discover.
April Burrell - Clinical Scientist I
How long have you worked as a medical lab professional?
11 years. Before Baebies, I was the Newborn Screening Consultant for the State of North Carolina.
What makes a good lab team?
Good communication and trust. This way everyone has the ability to step in and complete tasks when needed.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
Wonder Woman, she is a strong leader who does what is right and necessary in order to help people.
Candace Leslie - Clinical Scientist II
How do you describe your job to a friend?
My job is very rewarding. I have the opportunity to make a difference and improve the outcome for children by performing second tier testing to detect rare genetic diseases using Next Generation Sequencing. These diseases can cause disabilities and even death if not detected early.
How long have you worked as a medical lab professional?
20+ years. Prior to Baebies, I was a Laboratory Associate II at Q2 lab solutions in their lab ops group, performing High complexity testing on Tumor tissue using Next Generation Sequencing.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
My dad. I admire his strength and all he has overcome.
Mary Beth Rossi - Clinical Scientist II
What motivates you at work?
Knowing that we are making a positive impact in families lives all around the world.
How long have you worked as a medical lab professional?
8 years. Prior to Baebies, I worked at the North Carolina State Lab also running tests for newborn screening.
What makes a good lab team?
A good team is a team that truly cares about what they do and is excited to accomplish their tasks. We have the best team I have ever worked with currently and I am excited to see what we are able to accomplish in the future.
Sam Turner- Clinical Scientist I
What makes a good lab team?
A good lab team communicates clearly and frequently, has each other’s backs, and is dedicated to putting out the best work possible.
Looking back a year ago, how has your team’s daily work changed?
It’s funny, because compared to other professions I’d say that my work hasn’t changed too much in the last year. Supplies are sometimes harder to order and lots of in-person meetings have turned into Zoom meetings, but I’m still going into the lab every day to make sure clients receive the critical test results they need.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
Spiderman. He has a fun loving personality and an optimistic view of life, but also understands better than anyone else that “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Thanks to these unsung heroes and all lab professionals for your tireless work!
Related Links:
- Learn more about Second Tier Sequencing for Public Health Labs
- Publication: Second Tier Molecular Genetic Testing in Newborn Screening for Pompe Disease: Landscape and Challenges
- Press Release: Baebies Reaches Milestone of 10 Million Newborn Screening Tests Delivered
- Blog Post: Newborn Screening for Lysosomal Storage Disorders Expands Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic