Steps Toward Electronic Reporting of Lab Data

Draft document LRN Data Exchange At the March 19 meeting of the (BTLRWG) an approach for near-term and long-term internal data exchange on the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) for Bioterrorism was presented. The approach consists of three levels, Level 0, Level 1 and Level 2. Due to the lack of electronic infrastructure and IT capacity at participating labs, the only level that can be implemented immediately is Level 0 while Level 1 and 2 will be phased in as a result of ongoing work at CDC and the laboratory sites. Below is a brief description of each level and the current status on each. Level 0: This level takes advantage of relatively simple existing technology to enable the upload of sample and result information to CDC from LRN labs. LRN lab staff would enter data as a line listing into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and would periodically upload to CDC via the CDC Secure Data Network (SDN). Level 0 status:    Excel template for data exchange created. LRN activity created on SDN. This is the first step in providing secure data uploads to CDC. Discussion of policies and management of paper data. Since much of the current data management capacity involves the use of paper, standard forms for specimen collection and result records must be created and distributed to LRN labs to ensure all relevant data is collected in a manner consistent with the data exchange spreadsheet. There will possibly be some policy issues related to the use of the forms and the upload spreadsheet. Level 1: This level takes advantage of the security infrastructure that would be in place with the implementation of Level 0 while also enabling limited local electronic data management capacity and standard electronic laboratory message exchange. LRN labs that have no electronic capacity or others that wish to use it would receive a Microsoft Access application for local data management and integrated messaging. Level 1 status:  NEDSS data model extensions and additional message specifications are currently in design phase. This effort must be coordinated with NEDSS efforts to ensure compatibility with the NEDSS base system and other partner systems based on the NEDSS architecture.  Development of the data management application will follow completion of the data model.  Messaging component development will parallel data application development. The data flow for Bioterrorism information is very complex and modeling must be done for this component as well. Level 2: This level takes advantage of Level 1 technology but allows for LRN labs to integrate electronic messaging components with commercial or in house LIMS. This is level is intended for labs with higher level IT capacity and implementation at this level will be supported via direct assistance. Level 2 status:  Depends on Level 1 technology so implementation will follow the availability of Level 1 components.  Direct assistance details and guidance documents are in progress.