Dataset Information

Laboratory information system requirements to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: A report from the Belgian national reference testing center.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:The study sought to describe the development, implementation, and requirements of laboratory information system (LIS) functionality to manage test ordering, registration, sample flow, and result reporting during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Our large (>12 000 000 tests/y) academic hospital laboratory is the Belgian National Reference Center for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. We have performed a moving total of >25 000 SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction tests in parallel to standard routine testing since the start of the outbreak. A LIS implementation team dedicated to develop tools to remove the bottlenecks, primarily situated in the pre- and postanalytical phases, was established early in the crisis. RESULTS:We outline the design, implementation, and requirements of LIS functionality related to managing increased test demand during the COVID-19 crisis, including tools for test ordering, standardized order sets integrated into a computerized provider order entry module, notifications on shipping requirements, automated triaging based on digital metadata forms, and the establishment of databases with contact details of other laboratories and primary care physicians to enable automated reporting. We also describe our approach to data mining and reporting of actionable daily summary statistics to governing bodies and other policymakers. CONCLUSIONS:Rapidly developed, agile extendable LIS functionality and its meaningful use alleviates the administrative burden on laboratory personnel and improves turnaround time of SARS-CoV-2 testing. It will be important to maintain an environment that is conducive for the rapid adoption of meaningful LIS tools after the COVID-19 crisis.

SUBMITTER: Weemaes M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7197526 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Laboratory information system requirements to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: A report from the Belgian national reference testing center.

Weemaes Matthias M Martens Steven S Cuypers Lize L Van Elslande Jan J Hoet Katrien K Welkenhuysen Joris J Goossens Ria R Wouters Stijn S Houben Els E Jeuris Kirsten K Laenen Lies L Bruyninckx Katrien K Beuselinck Kurt K André Emmanuel E Depypere Melissa M Desmet Stefanie S Lagrou Katrien K Van Ranst Marc M Verdonck Ann K L C AKLC Goveia Jermaine J

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA 20200801 8

<h4>Objective</h4>The study sought to describe the development, implementation, and requirements of laboratory information system (LIS) functionality to manage test ordering, registration, sample flow, and result reporting during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Our large (>12 000 000 tests/y) academic hospital laboratory is the Belgian National Reference Center for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. We have perform ...[more]

PMID: 32348469

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Project description:BACKGROUND:High quality diagnostic services are crucial for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, treatment and control. A strong laboratory quality management system (QMS) is critical to ensuring the quality of testing and results. Recent initiatives to improve TB laboratory quality have focused on low and middle-income countries, but similar issues also apply to high-income countries. METHODS AND FINDINGS:Using a multipronged approach reviews of facilities, equipment, processes (purchasing, pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic), staff, health and safety, documentation, information management and organization based on the ISO 15189 and the twelve quality system essentials were conducted between October 2015 and January 2016 at the National TB Reference Laboratory in Germany. Outcome assessment included proportion of smear positive slides, proportion of contaminated liquid cultures and DNA contamination rates before and after implementation of QMS. The odds ratio for these outcomes was calculated using a before/after comparison. Reviews highlighted deficiencies across all twelve quality system essentials and were addressed in order of priority and urgency. Actions aimed at improving analytical quality, health and safety and information management were prioritised for initial implementation in parallel with each other. The odds ratio for a sample to be tested as microscopically positive increased by 2.08 (95%CI 1.41-3.06) comparing the time before with the time after implementation of quality managed fluorescence microscopy. Liquid culture contamination rates decreased from 23.6- 7.6% in April-July 2016 to <10% in November 2017-March 2018. The proportion of negative controls showing evidence of DNA contamination decreased from 38.2% in 2013 to 8.1% in 2017, the corresponding odds ratio was 0.14 (95%CI 0.07-0.29). CONCLUSION:This study showed marked improvement on quality indicators after implementation of a QMS in a National TB Reference Laboratory. The challenges and lessons learned in this study are valuable not just for high-income settings, but are equally generalizable to other laboratories.

Dataset Information

Laboratory information system requirements to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: A report from the Belgian national reference testing center.

Publications

Laboratory information system requirements to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: A report from the Belgian national reference testing center.

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