Consulting

Consultancy Services for Autoverification Rules Setup: Hematology, Chemistry, Urinalysis, AP

OFF-LINE (Logic Tests)

  1. Validate proposed rules by analyzing test data: input data having the following expected outputs:
    1. Release result as is
    2. Hold result
    3. Change result and release
    4. Change and hold
    5. Add comments/codes
  2. Check internal consistency of rules.
    1. Contradictions/Conflicts
    2. Cancellations
  3. Determine coverage that rules provide.
    1. All data conditions accounted for?
    2. Redundant rules
    3. Non-applicable rules

ON-LINE (Effectiveness Tests) using instrumentation interfaced to any Middleware/LIS/LIMS/EMR vendor.

Evaluate rules with respect to:

  1. Accuracy of reported results
    1. Questionable/incorrect instrument-based or manually entered results
    2. Ability to flag abnormal results and distinguish from inaccurate results. Use:
      • Available instrument redundancies: e.g. 2 WBC counts
      • Instrument flags
      • Recorded tech visual observations

Determine most effective follow-up actions for rule violation.

  1. Impact of different actions on accuracy and TAT; e.g. rerun vs. slide review
  2. Impact of rules + follow-up actions on TAT
    1. Review rate per rule
    2. % of cases that rules-based actions cause changes to previous results

Monitor instrument/technician productivity, and reveal method and/or reagent problems.

  1. Samples processed per hour per tech, e.g. manual differentials
  2. Instrument throughput per sample per hour
  3. Instrument throughput per test per hour
  4. # QC fails by instrument/parameter/Westgard rule

LabThruPut analytical tools are available to retrospectively analyze data using current and altered rules to determine the changes’ impact on review rates, result accuracy, and TAT.

  1. Filter data by e.g. site, instrument, demographic, date/time range.
  2. Significantly shorten typical rules optimization process from months to days.