Clinical Lab informatics

Question 1

Why is the clinical lab informatics system used?

Answer 1

Reduces turn around time
Result reporting made easier (no need to enter results if there is an interface running from PC to LIS, archived results too)
Minimal human error (no misplaced orders/records, decreased transcription errors from handwriting)
Reduced lab responsibilities (finding orders, delivering results, recording QC)

Question 2

What do you understand by informatics?

Answer 2

Informatics is management and processing of information using computer technology

Question 3

What is LIS?

Answer 3

One or more applications of software packages along with the associated operating system software and hardware needed to run computer programs that support the operational and management needs of the clinical lab

Question 4

This specific to the lab system receives, processes and stores information generated by the lab

Answer 4

Lab informatics system

Question 5

What does LIS system provide for?

Answer 5

• Automated flow of information into, out of and within the lab
• Interfacing with the HER (patient chart)
• Flow of information from instrument to lab LIS software to patient chart (HIS or EHR)

Question 6

What is the HIS?

Answer 6

Hospital information system. Computerized management of patient care within a hospital

Question 7

What is the EHR?

Answer 7

Electronic health record. Computer based medical record

Question 8

What are the functions of the LIS?

Answer 8

Holds demographics, prescriptions and allergies 
Order entry 
Maintain sample identification 
Aid in sample collection/phlebotomy
Track sample transport
Analytical instrument interfacing/result reporting 
Result entry
QC entry 
Archive information

Question 9

What two analytical instrument interfacing activities does the LIS do?

Answer 9

Auto verification

Data verification

Question 10

What is auto verification?

Answer 10

Patient results generated by an instrument interfaced to a LIS are compared by computer software against lab defined acceptance parameters.

Question 11

What does the order entry function of LIS consist of?

Answer 11

Processing test request from provider. Electronic, paper or verbal
Acquisition of date, patient identifiers physician ordering test, date and time of request, collection date and time, person entering request, test ordered

Question 12

What generates the sample ID?

Answer 12

LIS

Question 13

What is protected health information?

Answer 13

Name
MRN
DOB

Question 14

Is barcode/accession number patient specific or sample specific?

Answer 14

Sample specific

Question 15

What is a lab interface?

Answer 15

The software that allows one system to talk to another system when a practice uses EHR

Question 16

What is uni-directional interface?

Answer 16

When analyzers only transmit or upload information to the LIS and HER. Here the lab can’t receive information electronically. Order requisition must be paper or verbal. Goes from instrument to LIS to EHR

Question 17

What is bidirectional interface?

Answer 17

Here, the lab can receive or download tests requested from HER by the physician, send information to the LIS software as well as deliver results back the way it came. EHR - LIS - instrument - LIS - EHR

Question 18

What is the down time procedure?

Answer 18

Reverting back to manual entry if there is an interface failure, computer failure, power outrage

Question 19

What does automated entry require?

Answer 19

An interface from analyzer to LIS to upload results when instrument is done testing

Question 20

What are delta checks?

Answer 20

Comparison of two sets of date from the same patient. The difference between the two data sets is compared to a limit set for that analyte

Question 21

What does it mean when multiple delta checks fail on several tests performed on a single patient?

Answer 21

Patient or specimen has probably been misidentified

Question 22

Delta checks lend themselves best for what type of analytes?

Answer 22

Stable analytes with little day-to-day variation that are ,ensured frequently such as RBC indices, electrolytes or liver function tests

Question 23

What are delta checks useful for?

Answer 23

Determining specimen ID, specimen integrity, data entry or analytical errors that QC material may miss