COVID-19 TestNorm: A tool to normalize COVID-19 testing names to LOINC codes.

Large observational data networks that leverage routine clinical practice data in electronic health records (EHRs) are critical resources for research on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data normalization is a key challenge for the secondary use of EHRs for COVID-19 research across institutions. In this study, we addressed the challenge of automating the normalization of COVID-19 diagnostic tests, which are critical data elements, but for which controlled terminology terms were published after clinical implementation. We developed a simple but effective rule-based tool called COVID-19 TestNorm to automatically normalize local COVID-19 testing names to standard LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) codes. COVID-19 TestNorm was developed and evaluated using 568 test names collected from 8 healthcare systems. Our results show that it could achieve an accuracy of 97.4% on an independent test set. COVID-19 TestNorm is available as an open-source package for developers and as an online Web application for end users (https://clamp.uth.edu/covid/loinc.php). We believe that it will be a useful tool to support secondary use of EHRs for research on COVID-19.

COVID-19 paraclinical diagnostic tools: Updates and future trends.

MOTIVATION: COVID-19 is one of the most widely affecting pandemics. As for many respiratory viruses-caused diseases, diagnosis of COVID-19 relies on two main compartments: clinical and paraclinical diagnostic criteria. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is vital in such a pandemic. On one side, rapidity may enhance management effectiveness, while on the other, coupling efficiency and less costly procedures may permit more effective community-scale management. METHODOLOGY AND MAIN STRUCTURE: In this review, we shed light on the most used and the most validated diagnostic tools. Furthermore, we intend to include few under-development techniques that may be potentially useful in this context. The practical intent of our work is to provide clinicians with a realistic summarized review of the essential elements in the applied paraclinical diagnosis of COVID-19.

Laboratorio de diagnóstico clínico y/o de vigilancia epidemiológica: norma técnica No. 22-2019-DRACES / Laboratory for clinical diagnosis and / or epidemiological surveillance: technical standard No. 22-2019-DRACES

La tinta del documento está bastante opaca. DRACES [Departamento de Regulación, Acreditación y Control de Establecimientos de Salud] Este documento tiene como objeto: "la regulación, autorización y control de los laboratorios de diagnóstico clínico y/o de vigilancia epidemiológica, en concordancia con el Reglamento para la Regulación, Autorización, Acreditación y Control de Establecimientos de Atención para la Salud, Acuerdo Gubernativo 376-2007." Es de carácter obligatorio, por lo que se aplica tanto al sector público, privado, social o subsector de la seguridad social, en todo el territorio nacional. Contiene además, las definiciones de los conceptos relacionados al tema principal, además de la infraestructura que deberá tener cada clínica, incluidos el equipo y recurso humano y técnico. En el capítulo II, incluye una clasificación del nivel de laboratorios, describiendo sus características, servicios, horarios, materiales técnicos y equipos.

Assessment of laboratory capacity of public secondary health facilities in performing assay of selected epidemic-prone diseases in Oyo State, Nigeria.

This study assessed the capacity of public secondary facility-based laboratories in conducting diagnostic tests for selected epidemic-prone diseases in Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 secondary facility-based laboratories in Oyo State. Capacity was assessed on a 100-point scale in which scores were rated low (≤49%), fair (50-79%) and good (≥80%). Diagnostic testing capacity for bacterial meningitis, cholera, and measles was "low" in all the laboratories. The reasons reported for laboratories not conducting diagnostic tests for the selected diseases included inadequate instruments, unavailable reagents, and clinicians' failure to request those diagnostic tests. Laboratory capacity to perform diagnostic tests for the selected diseases was low in Oyo State secondary hospitals. There is a need for the provision of modern instruments and reagents, as well as clinician laboratorian quality assurance programs, to improve diagnostic services relating to the selected diseases.

Síndrome de disfunción de la articulación sacroiliaca. Análisis clínico de los resultados a corto y mediano plazo de una serie de 115 pacientes tratados con bloqueo selectivo percutáneo / Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Syndrome. Results of Clinical Analysis in the Short and Medium Term, in a series of 115 Patients Treated with Percutaneous Blockage

Objetivo: el síndrome de disfunción de la articulación sacroiliaca es una de las principales causas de dolor lumbar. Este artículo muestra cómo se evaluó el curso clínico de personas sometidas a bloqueos selectivos percutáneos para el tratamiento del dolor sacroiliaco. Materiales y métodos: se trataron 115 pacientes que asistieron a consulta entre noviembre de 2006 y mayo de 2013. Fueron diagnosticados con síndrome de disfunción de la articulación sacroiliaca. Se realizaron 131 bloqueos de esta articulación, llevados a cabo por uno de los autores (JCA) con técnica percutánea bajo visión fluoroscópica. El análisis se realizó a partir de la información de la historia clínica con un seguimiento de hasta un año. Resultados: se evaluó la intensidad del dolor con la escala visual análoga y se encontró que el 67 % de los pacientes presentó mejoría superior al 50% del dolor. El 35% presentó mejoría superior al 75% del dolor. Conclusiones: el tratamiento del dolor lumbar secundario a una alteración en la articulación sacroiliaca puede ser tratado con la realización percutánea de bloqueo selectivo con esteroides y anestésicos.

Sacroiliac joint ¿ysfunction syndrome is a major cause of lower back pain. Aim: To discuss the usefulness of selective percutaneous blockages as a potential treatment. Materials and methods: The population of this study were 115 patients who consultad hrom November 2006 until May 2013, and were diagnosed with sacroiliac joint syndrome. 131 blockages of the sacroiliac joint were performed in the last 6 years by observen (JCA) with a technique under fluoroscopic víew. The analysis was performed with data from the clinical history followed for up to one vean Results: It was found that 67% of patients showed an ¿mprovement of over 50% of pain using analog pain scale of these, 35% had greater improvement than 75% of the pain. Conclusions: One of the high-cost diseases un the system is lower back pain, and it ineludes Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Syndrome which must be diagnosed by history physical examination and radiological aids. The percutaneous blockage ¿s a treatment under fluoroscopic visión which can reach verv favorable results.

Limitaciones de los análisis de pelo para determinar las circunstancias que atenúan o eximen de la responsabilidad criminal / Uselessness of hair analysis to determine extenuating or exculpatory circumstances in cases related to criminal responsibility

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Implementation of a Decision Support System for Interpretation of Laboratory Tests for Patients.

The paper presents the results of the development and implementation of an expert system that automatically generates doctors' letters based on the results of laboratory tests. Medical knowledge is expressed using a first order predictate logic based language. The system was implemented and evaluated in the Helix laboratory service.

A system dynamics approach to analyze laboratory test errors.

Although many researches have been carried out to analyze laboratory test errors during the last decade, it still lacks a systemic view of study, especially to trace errors during test process and evaluate potential interventions. This study implements system dynamics modeling into laboratory errors to trace the laboratory error flows and to simulate the system behaviors while changing internal variable values. The change of the variables may reflect a change in demand or a proposed intervention. A review of literature on laboratory test errors was given and provided as the main data source for the system dynamics model. Three "what if" scenarios were selected for testing the model. System behaviors were observed and compared under different scenarios over a period of time. The results suggest system dynamics modeling has potential effectiveness of helping to understand laboratory errors, observe model behaviours, and provide a risk-free simulation experiments for possible strategies.

Mapping Russian Laboratory Terms to LOINC.

The paper presents the results of semiautomatic mapping of Russian laboratory terms to LOINC. Two clinics (A and B) and a laboratory service participated in the project. We were able to map 86% (Clinic A) and 87% (Clinic B) of laboratory terms. The required effort was reasonable and the price of mapping and maintenance was considered as relatively low. We established LOINC as a canonical coding method for a laboratory data exchange. This provided semantic interoperability for the data exchange process.

Setting analytical performance specifications based on outcome studies - is it possible?

The 1st Strategic Conference of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine proposed a simplified hierarchy for setting analytical performance specifications (APS). The top two levels of the 1999 Stockholm hierarchy, i.e., evaluation of the effect of analytical performance on clinical outcomes and clinical decisions have been proposed to be replaced by one outcome-based model. This model can be supported by: (1a) direct outcome studies; and (1b) indirect outcome studies investigating the impact of analytical performance of the test on clinical classifications or decisions and thereby on the probability of patient relevant clinical outcomes. This paper reviews the need for outcome-based specifications, the most relevant types of outcomes to be considered, and the challenges and limitations faced when setting outcome-based APS. The methods of Model 1a and b are discussed and examples are provided for how outcome data can be translated to APS using the linked evidence and simulation or decision analytic techniques. Outcome-based APS should primarily reflect the clinical needs of patients; should be tailored to the purpose, role and significance of the test in a well defined clinical pathway; and should be defined at a level that achieves net health benefit for patients at reasonable costs. Whilst it is acknowledged that direct evaluations are difficult and may not be possible for all measurands, all other forms of setting APS should be weighed against that standard, and regarded as approximations. Better definition of the relationship between the analytical performance of tests and health outcomes can be used to set analytical performance criteria that aim to improve the clinical and cost-effectiveness of laboratory tests.

Visualization of CDA laboratory reports and long term trends as a possible EHR application for patients and physicians.

To increase the patient's acceptance of electronic health records and understanding for their laboratory findings a web application was developed which presents all parameters and possible deviations of standard values in a clear way and visualizes the time based trend of all recorded parameters graphically. Documents corresponding to the Clinical document architecture (CDA) R2 laboratory reports standard and a rapid prototyping framework called Groovy on Grails were used. This work shows, that it is possible to create a useful, standards based tool for patients and physicians with comparatively few resources - an application that could be in similar form a part of an electronic Health Record (EHR) system like the Austrian electronic Health Record (ELGA).

[Analysis of effects of pharmacotherapy on certain parameters of clinical laboratory diagnostics].

AIM: To study effects of pharmaceutical products on the results of clinical and laboratory diagnostics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The list of vitally important pharmaceuticals, clinico-pharmacological articles of the National registry of medicinal products, formulary articles from the Federal guidelines on the use of pharmaceutical products. Formulary system, instructions for use of individual pharmaceutical products. Systemic and information-based approaches, logical and comparative analysis were used throughout the study. RESULTS: Results of analysis enabled the authors to draw up separate lists of pharmaceuticals based on their influence on parameters of clinical laboratory diagnostics, such as the list of pharmaceuticals exerting marked effect on diagnostic characteristics (blood properties, primary and coagulative hemostasis, serum enzymes), the list of pharmaceuticals exerting marked effect on systematized laboratory characteristics; the list of pharmaceuticals exerting no effect on clinical and laboratory diagnostics; the list of pharmaceuticals whose effect on diagnostic characteristics awaits clarification. CONCLUSION: The results of the study can be used for the development of recommendations on pharmaceutical counseling and rational choice of pharmaceutical products being prescribed to concrete patients.

A guideline-derived model to facilitate the implementation of test-ordering rules within a hospital information system.

The culture of evidence-based practice includes also the field of laboratory medicine. Clinical laboratory expenditure is growing rapidly for various reasons including increased utilization. Delivering decision support to requesters at the point of care is one of the main incentives for implementing laboratory guidelines. Laboratory guidelines were analyzed to extract test-ordering rules. Each rule was explicated in at least one clinical situation with triggers that launch the execution of the implemented rule. The Unified Modeling Language was used to represent the categories of information elements found in the guidelines and underline the information elements that need to be structured and coded in the EHR. These information elements are related to conditions including clinical conditions, habits, family history, demographic information, medical treatments, laboratory tests, and non-laboratory test procedures. Timestamping of each event is also important for implementing laboratory prescription rules. A linkage between the conditions of this model and HL7 RIM was feasible. Use of this model facilitates the implementation of evidence-based test-ordering rules and clarifies the EHR requirements for successful implementation of guidelines.