1
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Agnello L, Vidali M, Ciaccio AM, Lo Sasso B, Iacona A, Biundo G, Scazzone C, Gambino CM, Ciaccio M. A machine learning strategy to mitigate the inappropriateness of procalcitonin request in clinical practice. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26556. [PMID: 38444484 PMCID: PMC10912224 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim The aim of this study was to develop machine learning (ML) models to mitigate the inappropriate request of Procalcitonin (PCT) in clinical wards. Material and methods We built six different ML models based on both demographical data, i.e., sex and age, and laboratory parameters, i.e., cell blood count (CBC) parameters, inclusive of monocyte distribution width (MDW), and C-reactive protein (CRP). The dataset included 1667 PCT measurements of different patients. Based on a PCT cut-off of 0.50 ng/mL, we found 1090 negative (65.4%) and 577 positive (34.6%) results. We performed a 70:15:15 train:validation:test splitting based on the outcome. Results Random Forest, Support Vector Machine and eXtreme Gradient Boosting showed optimal performances for predicting PCT positivity, with an area under the curve ranging from 0.88 to 0.89. Conclusions The ML models developed could represent a useful tool to predict PCT positivity, avoiding unusefulness PCT requests. ML models are based on laboratory tests commonly ordered together with PCT but have the great advantage to be easy to measure and low-cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Agnello
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Matteo Vidali
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Ciaccio
- Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D'Alessandro”, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Bruna Lo Sasso
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AOUP “P. Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Iacona
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AOUP “P. Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Biundo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AOUP “P. Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Concetta Scazzone
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina Maria Gambino
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AOUP “P. Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AOUP “P. Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy
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2
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Devis L, Catry E, Honore PM, Mansour A, Lippi G, Mullier F, Closset M. Interventions to improve appropriateness of laboratory testing in the intensive care unit: a narrative review. Ann Intensive Care 2024; 14:9. [PMID: 38224401 PMCID: PMC10789714 DOI: 10.1186/s13613-024-01244-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare expenses are increasing, as is the utilization of laboratory resources. Despite this, between 20% and 40% of requested tests are deemed inappropriate. Improper use of laboratory resources leads to unwanted consequences such as hospital-acquired anemia, infections, increased costs, staff workload and patient stress and discomfort. The most unfavorable consequences result from unnecessary follow-up tests and treatments (overuse) and missed or delayed diagnoses (underuse). In this context, several interventions have been carried out to improve the appropriateness of laboratory testing. To date, there have been few published assessments of interventions specific to the intensive care unit. We reviewed the literature for interventions implemented in the ICU to improve the appropriateness of laboratory testing. We searched literature from 2008 to 2023 in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between April and June 2023. Five intervention categories were identified: education and guidance (E&G), audit and feedback, gatekeeping, computerized physician order entry (including reshaping of ordering panels), and multifaceted interventions (MFI). We included a sixth category exploring the potential role of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)-based assisting tools in such interventions. E&G-based interventions and MFI are the most frequently used approaches. MFI is the most effective type of intervention, and shows the strongest persistence of effect over time. AI/ML-based tools may offer valuable assistance to the improvement of appropriate laboratory testing in the near future. Patient safety outcomes are not impaired by interventions to reduce inappropriate testing. The literature focuses mainly on reducing overuse of laboratory tests, with only one intervention mentioning underuse. We highlight an overall poor quality of methodological design and reporting and argue for standardization of intervention methods. Collaboration between clinicians and laboratory staff is key to improve appropriate laboratory utilization. This article offers practical guidance for optimizing the effectiveness of an intervention protocol designed to limit inappropriate use of laboratory resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Devis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Emilie Catry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Pôle Mont Godinne (MONT), UCLouvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Patrick M Honore
- Department of Intensive Care, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Mansour
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Pontchaillou University Hospital of Rennes, Rennes, France
- IRSET-INSERM-1085, Univ Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry and School of Medicine, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - François Mullier
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
- Namur Thrombosis and Hemostasis Center (NTHC), Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Namur, Belgium
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Pôle Mont Godinne (MONT), UCLouvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Closset
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Pôle Mont Godinne (MONT), UCLouvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
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3
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Ferraro S, Cereda C, Zuccotti G, Biganzoli EM. Critical appraisal of "choosing which in-hospital laboratory tests to target for intervention: a scoping review". Clin Chem Lab Med 2023; 61:e48-e49. [PMID: 36427899 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-1164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Ferraro
- Newborn Screening and Genetic Metabolic Diseases Unit, "V. Buzzi" Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Endocrinology Laboratory Unit, "Luigi Sacco" University Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Newborn Screening and Genetic Metabolic Diseases Unit, "V. Buzzi" Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Pediatric Department, "V. Buzzi" Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
- Pediatric Department, "V. Buzzi" Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elia Mario Biganzoli
- Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, "Luigi Sacco" University Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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4
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Panteghini M, Dolci A, Birindelli S, Szoke D, Aloisio E, Caruso S. Pursuing appropriateness of laboratory tests: a 15-year experience in an academic medical institution. Clin Chem Lab Med 2022; 60:1706-1718. [PMID: 35998662 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Appropriateness in Laboratory Medicine has been the object of various types of interventions. From published experiences, it is now clear that to effectively manage the laboratory test demand it is recommended to activate evidence-based preventative strategies stopping inappropriate requests before they can reach the laboratory. To guarantee appropriate laboratory test utilization, healthcare institutions should implement and optimize a computerized provider order entry (CPOE), exploiting the potential of electronic requesting as "enabling factor" for reinforcing appropriateness and sustaining its effects over time. In our academic institution, over the last 15 years, our medical laboratory has enforced various interventions to improve test appropriateness, all directly or indirectly based on CPOE use. The following types of intervention were implemented: (1) applying specific recommendations supported by monitoring by CPOE as well as a continuous consultation with clinicians (tumour markers); (2) removing outdated tests and avoiding redundant duplications (cardiac markers, pancreatic enzymes); (3) order restraints to selected wards and gating policy (procalcitonin, B-type natriuretic peptide, homocysteine); (4) reflex testing (bilirubin fractions, free prostate-specific antigen, aminotransferases, magnesium in hypocalcemia); and (5) minimum retesting interval (D-Dimer, vitamin B12, C-reactive protein, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase). In this paper, we reviewed these interventions and summarized their outcomes primarily related to the changes in total test volumes and cost savings, without neglecting patient safety. Our experience confirmed that laboratory professionals have an irreplaceable role as "stewards" in designing, implementing, evaluating, and maintaining interventions focused to improving test appropriateness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Panteghini
- UOC Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Dolci
- UOC Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah Birindelli
- UOC Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Dominika Szoke
- UOC Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Aloisio
- UOC Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Caruso
- UOC Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
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5
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Padoan A, Plebani M. Flowing through laboratory clinical data: the role of artificial intelligence and big data. Clin Chem Lab Med 2022; 60:1875-1880. [PMID: 35850928 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
During the last few years, clinical laboratories have faced a sea change, from facilities producing a high volume of low-cost test results, toward a more integrated and patient-centered service. Parallel to this paradigm change, the digitalization of healthcare data has made an enormous quantity of patients' data easily accessible, thus opening new scenarios for the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Every day, clinical laboratories produce a huge amount of information, of which patients' results are only a part. The laboratory information system (LIS) may include other "relevant" compounding data, such as internal quality control or external quality assessment (EQA) results, as well as, for example, timing of test requests and of blood collection and exams transmission, these data having peculiar characteristics typical of big data, as volume, velocity, variety, and veracity, potentially being used to generate value in patients' care. Despite the increasing interest expressed in AI and big data in laboratory medicine, these topics are approaching the discipline slowly for several reasons, attributable to lack of knowledge and skills but also to poor or absent standardization, harmonization and problematic regulatory and ethical issues. Finally, it is important to bear in mind that the mathematical postulation of algorithms is not sufficient for obtaining useful clinical tools, especially when biological parameters are not evaluated in the appropriate context. It is therefore necessary to enhance cooperation between laboratory and AI experts, and to coordinate and govern processes, thus favoring the development of valuable clinical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Padoan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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6
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Caruso S, Szoke D, Panteghini M. 'Penelope test': a practical instrument for checking appropriateness of laboratory tests. Clin Chem Lab Med 2022; 60:1342-1349. [PMID: 35785546 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In medical laboratories, the appropriateness challenge directly revolves around the laboratory test and its proper selection, data analysis, and result reporting. However, laboratories have also a role in the appropriate management of those phases of total testing process (TTP) that traditionally are not under their direct control. So that, the laboratory obligation to act along the entire TTP is now widely accepted in order to achieve better care management. Because of the large number of variables involved in the overall TTP structure, it is difficult to monitor appropriateness in real time. However, it is possible to retrospectively reconstruct the body of the clinical process involved in the management of a specific laboratory test to track key passages that may be defective or incomplete in terms of appropriateness. Here we proposed an appropriateness check-list scheme along the TTP chain to be potentially applied to any laboratory test. This scheme consists of a series of questions that healthcare professionals should answer to achieve laboratory test appropriateness. In the system, even a single lacking answer may compromise the integrity of all appropriateness evaluation process as the inability to answer may involve a significant deviation from the optimal trajectory, which compromise the test appropriateness and the quality of subsequent steps. Using two examples of the check-list application, we showed that the proposed instrument may offer an objective help to avoid inappropriate use of laboratory tests in an integrated way involving both laboratory professionals and user clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Caruso
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Dominika Szoke
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
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7
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Caruso S, Szoke D, Birindelli S, Falvella FS, Dolci A, Panteghini M. Improving D-dimer testing appropriateness by controlling periodicity of retesting: prevention is better than cure. Clin Chem Lab Med 2022; 60:e175-e176. [PMID: 35510643 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Caruso
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Dominika Szoke
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah Birindelli
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Dolci
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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8
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Hardy NL, Jacobs J, Mullins K, Christenson R, Cox T, Murphy C, Koka R. Pathology Trainees Gain Clinical Pathology Experience as Lab Consultants Through Auditing Myeloid Mutation Panel Send-Out Tests. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2022; 146:1286-1290. [PMID: 35089993 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2021-0334-ep] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Inappropriate laboratory testing and the threat it poses to patient care and rising health care costs has become an important focus in the medical literature. Pathology residents, as physicians with an intimate knowledge of laboratory testing, may be uniquely equipped with the tools to intervene in situations of inappropriate testing and also benefit from lab use experience as part of their clinical pathology training. OBJECTIVE.— To employ a resident-driven initiative aimed at incorporating pathology residents as consultants for appropriate ordering of high-volume, send-out myeloid mutation panel testing. DESIGN.— During a 6-month study period, all myeloid mutation panel send-out tests were screened by senior pathology residents on their clinical chemistry rotation prior to approval at an academic medical center. A retrospective review of myeloid mutation panels from the prior 6 months was conducted with the same criteria to determine effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS.— Of the 234 tests ordered during the study period, screening resulted in cancellation of 17% (n = 39), with proportional cost savings. The number of inappropriate orders successfully cancelled was significant compared with the preintervention period (control, 0%; intervention, 76.5%; P < .001, Fisher exact test). There was no significant difference in the proportion of inappropriate tests before and after intervention. CONCLUSIONS.— Although test ordering patterns did not substantially change during the intervention period, pathology residents effectively reduced inappropriate myeloid mutation panel testing through prospective send-out auditing, leading to significant cost savings. Moreover, assessment of test use and appropriateness provided critical clinical pathology training within the areas of hematology, molecular genetics, and laboratory management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi L Hardy
- From the Department of Pathology (Hardy, Jacobs), University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore
| | - Jonathan Jacobs
- From the Department of Pathology (Hardy, Jacobs), University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore
| | - Kristin Mullins
- Pathology and Lab Chemistry (Mullins, Christenson), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert Christenson
- Pathology and Lab Chemistry (Mullins, Christenson), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Thoko Cox
- Laboratories of Pathology (Cox), University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore
| | - Colin Murphy
- Transfusion Medicine in Laboratories of Pathology (Murphy), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rima Koka
- The Department of Pathology (Koka), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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9
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Carbone T, Picerno V, Pafundi V, Esposito E, Leccese P, Padula AA, D'Angelo S. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Appropriateness of Diagnostic Pathways of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. J Rheumatol 2021; 49:219-224. [PMID: 34654735 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.210611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) is key to achieving effective treatment and improving prognosis. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to major changes in clinical practice on a global scale. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatological clinical practice and autoimmunity testing demands. METHODS Data regarding the first rheumatological visits and new diagnoses, together with the autoimmunity laboratory testing volumes related to the COVID-19 pandemic phase (January-December 2020), were collected from medical records and the laboratory information system of a regional reference hospital (Basilicata, Italy) and compared with those obtained during the corresponding period in 2019. RESULTS A significant decrease in the 2020 autoimmunity laboratory test volume was found when compared with the same period in 2019 (9912 vs 14,100; P < 0.05). A significant decrease in first rheumatological visits and diagnosis (1272 vs 2336; P < 0.05) was also observed. However, an equivalent or higher percentage of positive autoimmunity results from outpatient services was recorded during 2020 when compared to the prepandemic state. Of note, COVID-19-associated decline in new diagnoses affected mainly less severe diseases. In contrast, ARDs with systemic involvement were diagnosed at the same levels as in the prepandemic period. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic has affected access to health services. However, our study highlighted that during the outbreak, greater appropriateness of the requests for laboratory tests and visits emerged, as shown by a greater percentage of positive test results and new diagnoses of more severe ARDs compared to the prepandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Carbone
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
| | - Valentina Picerno
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
| | - Vito Pafundi
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
| | - Ernesto Esposito
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
| | - Pietro Leccese
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
| | - Angela Anna Padula
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
| | - Salvatore D'Angelo
- T. Carbone, PhD, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Sanitaria di Matera (ASM), Matera; V. Picerno, MD, P. Leccese, MD, A.A. Padula, MD, S. D'Angelo, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Institute of Lucania - San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; V. Pafundi, MD, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza; E. Esposito, MD, Health Department, Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy. T. Carbone and V. Picerno contributed equally. The authors declare no conflict of interests relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. V. Pafundi, Immunopathology Laboratory, San Carlo Hospital, Potito Petrone St., 85100 Potenza, Italy. . Accepted for publication September 30, 2021
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10
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Nichols ZE, Geddes CD. Sample Preparation and Diagnostic Methods for a Variety of Settings: A Comprehensive Review. Molecules 2021; 26:5666. [PMID: 34577137 PMCID: PMC8470389 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26185666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sample preparation is an essential step for nearly every type of biochemical analysis in use today. Among the most important of these analyses is the diagnosis of diseases, since their treatment may rely greatly on time and, in the case of infectious diseases, containing their spread within a population to prevent outbreaks. To address this, many different methods have been developed for use in the wide variety of settings for which they are needed. In this work, we have reviewed the literature and report on a broad range of methods that have been developed in recent years and their applications to point-of-care (POC), high-throughput screening, and low-resource and traditional clinical settings for diagnosis, including some of those that were developed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to covering alternative approaches and improvements to traditional sample preparation techniques such as extractions and separations, techniques that have been developed with focuses on integration with smart devices, laboratory automation, and biosensors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach E. Nichols
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Drive, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA;
- Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 701 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21270, USA
| | - Chris D. Geddes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Drive, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA;
- Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 701 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21270, USA
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11
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Falvella FS, Chibireva M, Panteghini M. Prospective validation of an automatic reflex test for identifying spurious elevations of mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration due to the presence of cold agglutinins. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2021; 81:598-600. [PMID: 34346820 DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2021.1959051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cold agglutinins (CA) in blood may cause false reduction in red blood cell (RBC) count and false increases of RBC indices, such as mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Preheating at 37 °C for 2 h is used to overcome this problem. We previously proposed the integration in a total laboratory automation (TLA) setting of a customized reflex test in the presence of MCHC >385 g/L for identifying spurious elevations due to CA. Here, we prospectively evaluate this approach after its introduction in our clinical practice. We evaluated 73 consecutive blood samples from 34 adult patients. Short heating (<1 min) at 41 °C using the reticulocyte channel of Sysmex XN-9000 platform was followed by calculation of optical parameters by the instrument software to ensure quick solution of the CA-dependent problems. After the reflex test in the reticulocyte channel, MCHC dropped below 385 g/L in 50 samples. The reflex markedly corrected the RBC number in eight samples obtained from three patients with CA condition. Two samples from markedly anaemic patients had low blood haemoglobin and RBC count before and after reflex. The remaining 13 samples were obtained from 12 patients, most of whom were on antiretroviral therapy or suffered severe electrolyte disorders, known conditions associated to increased MCHC. The implementation of the proposed automatic reflex by reticulocyte channel on the Sysmex XN-9000 platform in a TLA setting may solve the problem of spuriously high MCHC due to RBC agglutination for CA in a few minutes instead of waiting hours for sample preheating.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariia Chibireva
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
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12
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Hardy NL, Luethy PM. Evaluation of Inappropriate COVID-19 RT-PCR Test Utilization at an academic medical center. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 6:1484-1491. [PMID: 34191020 PMCID: PMC8344747 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background An evolving COVID-19 testing landscape and issues with test supply allocation, especially in the current pandemic, has made it challenging for ordering providers. We audited orders of the Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR platform—the fastest of several other testing modalities available—to illuminate these challenges utilizing a multidisciplinary laboratory professional team consisting of a pathology resident and microbiology lab director. Methods Retrospective review of the first five hundred Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test orders from a 2-week period to determine test appropriateness based on the following indications: emergency surgery, emergent obstetric procedures, initial behavioral health admission, and later including discharge to skilled care facilities and pediatric admissions. Our hypothesis was that a significant proportion of orders for this testing platform were inappropriate. Results Upon review, a significant proportion of orders were incorrect, with 69.8% (n = 349, p < 0.0001) not meeting indications for rapid testing. Of all orders, 249 designated as emergency surgery were inappropriate, with 49.0% of those orders never proceeding with any surgical intervention; most of these were trauma related (64.6% were orders associated with a trauma unit). Conclusions Significant, pervasive inappropriate ordering practices were identified at this center. A laboratory professional team can be key to identifying problems in testing and play a significant role in combating inappropriate test utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi L Hardy
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul M Luethy
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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13
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Deep into Laboratory: An Artificial Intelligence Approach to Recommend Laboratory Tests. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11060990. [PMID: 34072571 PMCID: PMC8227070 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11060990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory tests are performed to make effective clinical decisions. However, inappropriate laboratory test ordering hampers patient care and increases financial burden for healthcare. An automated laboratory test recommendation system can provide rapid and appropriate test selection, potentially improving the workflow to help physicians spend more time treating patients. The main objective of this study was to develop a deep learning-based automated system to recommend appropriate laboratory tests. A retrospective data collection was performed at the National Health Insurance database between 1 January 2013, and 31 December 2013. We included all prescriptions that had at least one laboratory test. A total of 1,463,837 prescriptions from 530,050 unique patients was included in our study. Of these patients, 296,541 were women (55.95%), the range of age was between 1 and 107 years. The deep learning (DL) model achieved a higher area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC micro = 0.98, and AUROC macro = 0.94). The findings of this study show that the DL model can accurately and efficiently identify laboratory tests. This model can be integrated into existing workflows to reduce under- and over-utilization problems.
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14
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Pasqualetti S, Chibireva M, Birindelli S, Panteghini M. Automatic reflex addition of serum magnesium determination to samples with severe hypocalcemia is an effective tool to detect and treat hypomagnesemia. Clin Biochem 2021; 92:89. [PMID: 33794193 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pasqualetti
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
| | - Mariia Chibireva
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah Birindelli
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
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15
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Ferraro S, Bussetti M, Rizzardi S, Braga F, Panteghini M. Verification of Harmonization of Serum Total and Free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Measurements and Implications for Medical Decisions. Clin Chem 2021; 67:543-553. [PMID: 33674839 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvaa268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that the harmonization of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assays remained limited even after the introduction of WHO International Standards. This information needs updating for current measuring systems (MS) and reevaluation according to established analytical performance specifications (APS) and the characteristics of antibodies used. METHODS Total (tPSA) and free (fPSA) PSA were measured in 135 and 137 native serum samples, respectively, by Abbott Alinity i, Beckman Access Dxl, Roche Cobas e801, and Siemens Atellica IM MSs. Passing-Bablok regression and difference plots were used to compare results from each MS to the all-method median values. Agreement among methods was evaluated against APS for bias derived from biological variation of the 2 measurands. RESULTS The median interassay CV for tPSA MSs (11.5%; 25-75th percentiles, 9.2-13.4) fulfilled the minimum APS goal for intermethod bias (15.9%), while the interassay CV for fPSA did not [20.4% (25-75th percentiles, 18.4-22.7) vs goal 17.6%]. Considering the all-method median value of each sample as reference, all tPSA MSs exhibited a mean percentage bias within the minimum goal. On the other hand, Alinity (+21.3%) and Access (-24.2%) were out of the minimum bias goal for fPSA, the disagreement explained only in minimal part by the heterogeneity of employed antibodies. CONCLUSIONS The harmonization among tPSA MSs is acceptable only when minimum APS are applied and necessitates further improvement. The marked disagreement among fPSA MSs questions the use of fPSA as a second-level test for biopsy referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Ferraro
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Bussetti
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Rizzardi
- Unità Operativa Laboratorio Analisi Chimico Cliniche e Microbiologiche, ASST Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | - Federica Braga
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milano, Italy.,Research Centre for Metrological Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (CIRME), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milano, Italy.,Research Centre for Metrological Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (CIRME), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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16
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Dolci A, Robbiano C, Aloisio E, Chibireva M, Serafini L, Falvella FS, Pasqualetti S, Panteghini M. Searching for a role of procalcitonin determination in COVID-19: a study on a selected cohort of hospitalized patients. Clin Chem Lab Med 2020; 59:433-440. [PMID: 33554505 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2020-1361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed for differentiating viral vs. bacterial infections. In COVID-19, some preliminary results have shown that PCT testing could act as a predictor of bacterial co-infection and be a useful marker for assessment of disease severity. Methods We studied 83 COVID-19 hospitalized patients in whom PCT was specifically ordered by attending physicians. PCT results were evaluated according to the ability to accurately predict bacterial co-infections and death in comparison with other known biomarkers of infection and with major laboratory predictors of COVID-19 severity. Results Thirty-three (39.8%) patients suffered an in-hospital bacterial co-infection and 44 (53.0%) patients died. In predicting bacterial co-infection, PCT showed a relatively low accuracy (area under receiver-operating characteristic [ROC] curve [AUC]: 0.757; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.651-0.845), with a strength for detecting the outcome not significantly different from that of white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP). In predicting patient death, PCT showed an AUC of 0.815 (CI: 0.714-0.892), not better than those of other more common laboratory tests, such as blood lymphocyte percentage (AUC: 0.874, p=0.19), serum lactate dehydrogenase (AUC: 0.860, p=0.47), blood neutrophil count (AUC: 0.845, p=0.59), and serum albumin (AUC: 0.839, p=0.73). Conclusions Procalcitonin (PCT) testing, even when appropriately ordered, did not provide a significant added value in COVID-19 patients when compared with more consolidated biomarkers of infection and poor clinical outcome. The major application of PCT in COVID-19 is its ability, associated with a negative predictive value >90%, to exclude a bacterial co-infection when a rule-out cut-off (<0.25 μg/L) is applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Dolci
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elena Aloisio
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariia Chibireva
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Sara Pasqualetti
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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17
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Arbiol-Roca A, Navarro-Badal MR, Allende-Monclús B. Utility of the icteric index for the management of bilirubin test requesting. Clin Chem Lab Med 2020; 57:e318-e320. [PMID: 31199759 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2019-0193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Arbiol-Roca
- Laboratori Clínic L'Hospitalet - Laboratori Clínic Territorial Metropolitana Sud. Institut Català de la Salut. Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, Phone: +34932607500
| | - Maria Rosa Navarro-Badal
- Laboratori Clínic L'Hospitalet - Laboratori Clínic Territorial Metropolitana Sud. Institut Català de la Salut. Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Blanca Allende-Monclús
- Laboratori Clínic L'Hospitalet - Laboratori Clínic Territorial Metropolitana Sud. Institut Català de la Salut. Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Bai L, Gao S, Burstein F, Kerr D, Buntine P, Law N. A systematic literature review on unnecessary diagnostic testing: The role of ICT use. Int J Med Inform 2020; 143:104269. [PMID: 32927268 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The negative impact of unnecessary diagnostic tests on healthcare systems and patients has been widely recognized. Medical researchers in various countries have been devoting effort to reduce unnecessary diagnostic tests by using different types of interventions, including information and communications technology-based (ICT-based) intervention, educational intervention, audit and feedback, the introduction of guidelines or protocols, and the reward and punishment of staff. We conducted a review of ICT based interventions and a comparative analysis of their relative effectiveness in reducing unnecessary tests. METHOD A systematic Boolean search in PubMed, EMBase and EBSCOhost research databases was performed. Keyword search and citation analysis were also conducted. Empirical studies reporting ICT based interventions, and their implications on relative effectiveness in reducing unnecessary diagnostic tests (pathology tests or medical imaging) were evaluated independently by two reviewers based on a rigorously developed coding protocol. RESULTS 92 research articles from peer-reviewed journals were identified as eligible. 47 studies involved a single-method intervention and 45 involved multi-method interventions. Regardless of the number of interventions involved in the studies, ICT-based interventions were utilized by 71 studies and 59 of them were shown to be effective in reducing unnecessary testing. A clinical decision support (CDS) tool appeared to be the most adopted ICT approach, with 46 out of 71 studies using CDS tools. The CDS tool showed effectiveness in reducing test volume in 38 studies and reducing cost in 24 studies. CONCLUSIONS This review investigated five frequently utilized intervention methods, ICT-based, education, introduction of guidelines or protocols, audit and feedback, and reward and punishment. It provides in-depth analysis of the efficacy of different types of interventions and sheds insights about the benefits of ICT based interventions, especially those utilising CDS tools, to reduce unnecessary diagnostic testing. The replicability of the studies is limited due to the heterogeneity of the studies in terms of context, study design, and targeted types of tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Bai
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Shijia Gao
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Frada Burstein
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Donald Kerr
- USC Business School, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul Buntine
- Emergency Department, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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19
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Tamburrano A, Vallone D, Carrozza C, Urbani A, Sanguinetti M, Nicolotti N, Cambieri A, Laurenti P. Evaluation and cost estimation of laboratory test overuse in 43 commonly ordered parameters through a Computerized Clinical Decision Support System (CCDSS) in a large university hospital. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237159. [PMID: 32760101 PMCID: PMC7410244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems (CCDSS) have become increasingly important in ensuring patient safety and supporting all phases of clinical decision making. The aim of this study is to evaluate, through a CCDSS, the rate of the laboratory tests overuse and to estimate the cost of the inappropriate requests in a large university hospital. METHOD In this observational study, hospital physicians submitted the examination requests for the inpatients through a Computerized Physician Order Entry. Violations of the rules in tests requests were intercepted and counted by a CCDSS, over a period of 20 months. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Student's t-test and ANOVA) were made. Finally, the monthly comprehensive cost of the laboratory tests was calculated. RESULTS During the observation period a total of 5,716,370 requests were analyzed and 809,245 violations were counted. The global rate of overuse was 14.2% ± 3.0%. The most inappropriate exams were Alpha Fetoprotein (85.8% ± 30.5%), Chlamydia trachomatis Nucleic Acid Amplification (48.7% ± 8.8%) and Alkaline Phosphatase (20.3% ± 6.5%). The monthly cost of over-utilization was 56,534€ for basic panel, 14,421€ for coagulation, 4,758€ for microbiology, 432€ for immunology exams. All the exams, generated an estimated avoidable cost of 1,719,337€ (85,967€ per month) for the hospital. CONCLUSIONS The study confirms the wide variability in over-utilization rates of laboratory tests. For these reasons, the real impact of inappropriateness is difficult to assess, but the generated costs for patients, hospitals and health systems are certainly high and not negligible. It would be desirable for international medical communities to produce a complete panel of prescriptive rules for all the most common laboratory exams that is useful not only to reduce costs, but also to ensure standardization and high-quality care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Tamburrano
- Section of Hygiene - Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | - Doriana Vallone
- Section of Hygiene - Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | - Cinzia Carrozza
- Unit of Biochemical Chemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Unit of Biochemical Chemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Maurizio Sanguinetti
- Department of Laboratory Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Nicola Nicolotti
- Hospital Health Management, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Andrea Cambieri
- Hospital Health Management, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Patrizia Laurenti
- Section of Hygiene - Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
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20
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Ko SQ, Quah P, Lahiri M. The cost of repetitive laboratory testing for chronic disease. Intern Med J 2020; 49:1168-1170. [PMID: 31507043 DOI: 10.1111/imj.14428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Interval laboratory investigations are necessary for monitoring chronic diseases. However, testing too frequently may not be beneficial clinically and can be considered low-value care. We examined the frequency of glycosylated haemoglobin, lipids, iron panels (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, iron binding) thyroid function (free T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone) and 25-OH vitamin D tests in a 1290-bed tertiary hospital in Singapore. All tests done over a 20-month period (January 2016 to August 2017) were retrieved from the laboratory database. Of the 275 565 tests done for 115 971 patients, 5.2% were repeat tests done at intervals shorter than the minimum retesting interval, as defined by the Royal College of Pathologist and Irish Guidelines on the Use of the Laboratory. Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, we estimated a cost burden of US$222 096 per year. Strategies to reduce unnecessary repetitive testing can result in significant cost savings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Q Ko
- Department of Medicine, National University Health Systems, Singapore
| | - Pipetius Quah
- Department of Medicine, National University Health Systems, Singapore
| | - Manjari Lahiri
- Department of Medicine, National University Health Systems, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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21
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Church DL, Naugler C. Essential role of laboratory physicians in transformation of laboratory practice and management to a value-based patient-centric model. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2020; 57:323-344. [PMID: 32180485 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2020.1720591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The laboratory is a vital part of the continuum of patient care. In fact, there are few programs in the healthcare system that do not rely on ready access and availability of complex diagnostic laboratory services. The existing transactional model of laboratory "medical practice" will not be able to meet the needs of the healthcare system as it rapidly shifts toward value-based care and precision medicine, which demands that practice be based on total system indicators, clinical effectiveness, and patient outcomes. Laboratory "value" will no longer be focused primarily on internal testing quality and efficiencies but rather on the relative cost of diagnostic testing compared to direct improvement in clinical and system outcomes. The medical laboratory as a "business" focused on operational efficiency and cost-controls must transform to become an essential clinical service that is a tightly integrated equal partner in direct patient care. We would argue that this paradigm shift would not be necessary if laboratory services had remained a "patient-centric" medical practice throughout the last few decades. This review is focused on the essential role of laboratory physicians in transforming laboratory practice and management to a value-based patient-centric model. Value-based practice is necessary not only to meet the challenges of the new precision medicine world order but also to bring about sustainable healthcare service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre L Church
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Christopher Naugler
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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22
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Swiner DJ, Jackson S, Burris BJ, Badu-Tawiah AK. Applications of Mass Spectrometry for Clinical Diagnostics: The Influence of Turnaround Time. Anal Chem 2020; 92:183-202. [PMID: 31671262 PMCID: PMC7896279 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This critical review discusses how the need for reduced clinical turnaround times has influenced chemical instrumentation. We focus on the development of modern mass spectrometry (MS) and its application in clinical diagnosis. With increased functionality that takes advantage of novel front-end modifications and computational capabilities, MS can now be used for non-traditional clinical analyses, including applications in clinical microbiology for bacteria differentiation and in surgical operation rooms. We summarize here recent developments in the field that have enabled such capabilities, which include miniaturization for point-of-care testing, direct complex mixture analysis via ambient ionization, chemical imaging and profiling, and systems integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin J. Swiner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Sierra Jackson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Benjamin J. Burris
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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23
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Ferraro S, Caruso S, Panteghini M. Reflex Testing of Free Prostate-Specific Antigen as Effective Health Care Policy. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2019; 143:1045. [PMID: 31453733 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2019-0117-le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Ferraro
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Caruso
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
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24
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Laboratory intervention to improve the request of urinary albumin in primary care patients with arterial hypertension and financial implications. Clin Biochem 2019; 69:48-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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25
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Aloisio E, Dolci A, Panteghini M. Procalcitonin: Between evidence and critical issues. Clin Chim Acta 2019; 496:7-12. [PMID: 31194966 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response of the host to infection. It represents one of the major health care problems worldwide. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of sepsis is challenging for many reasons, including a lack of a sufficiently sensitive and specific diagnostic test. When procalcitonin (PCT) was discovered, it was thought that it could become the best test for identifying patients with sepsis. From the evidence sources in the available literature, it is now clear that the power of PCT in differentiating infectious from non-infectious forms of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in adults, and in stratifying morbidity and mortality risk, is limited. Nevertheless, PCT determination can be a useful tool for diagnosing late-onset neonatal sepsis, bacterial meningitis and other forms of organ-related bacterial infections and, above all, it can be used for guiding antibiotic stewardship in critical patients. The real impact of this application of PCT testing, however, still needs to be clearly defined. Laboratories should offer unrestricted PCT testing only to intensive care units (as an aid in decision for continuing or stopping antibiotics) and pediatric wards. For all other clinical wards, the laboratory should guide PCT requests and give them support towards the most appropriate approach to testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Aloisio
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alberto Dolci
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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26
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Pasqualetti S, Aloisio E, Birindelli S, Dolci A, Panteghini M. Impact of total automation consolidating first-line laboratory tests on diagnostic blood loss. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 57:1721-1729. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2019-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Blood loss for laboratory testing may contribute to hospital-acquired anemia. When implementing the core laboratory (core-lab) section, we consolidated first-line tests decreasing the number of tubes previously dispatched to different sites. Here, hypothesized benefits of the amount of blood volume drawn were explored.
Methods
We retrieved, using a laboratory information system (LIS), the number of tubes received by laboratories interested in the change from all clinical wards in a year-based period, i.e. 2013 for pre-core-lab and 2015 for core-lab system, respectively. Data were expressed as the overall number of tubes sent to laboratories, the corresponding blood volume, and the number of laboratory tests performed, normalized for the number of inpatients.
Results
After consolidation, the average number of blood tubes per inpatient significantly decreased (12.6 vs. 10.7, p < 0.001). However, intensive care units (ICUs) did not reduce the number of tubes per patient, according to the needs of daily monitoring of their clinical status. The average blood volume sent to laboratories did not vary significantly because serum tubes for core-lab required higher volumes for testing up to 55 analytes in the same transaction. Finally, the number of requested tests per patient during the new osystem slightly decreased (−2.6%).
Conclusions
Total laboratory automation does not automatically mean reducing iatrogenic blood loss. The new system affected the procedure of blood drawing in clinical wards by significantly reducing the number of handled tubes, producing a benefit in terms of costs, labor and time consumption. Except in ICUs, this also slightly promoted some blood saving. ICUs which engage in phlebotomizing patients daily, did not take advantage from the test consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pasqualetti
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco , Via GB Grassi 74 , 20157 Milan , Italy , Phone: +39 02 39042683, Fax: +39 02 39042364
| | - Elena Aloisio
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco , Milan , Italy
| | - Sarah Birindelli
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco , Milan , Italy
| | - Alberto Dolci
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco , Milan , Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco , Milan , Italy
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Munk JK, Lind BS, Jørgensen HL. Change in HbA 1c concentration as decision parameter for frequency of HbA 1c measurement. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2019; 79:320-324. [PMID: 31140320 DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2019.1622032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a long-term measure for glucose concentration in plasma. Since its introduction as a diabetes monitoring tool, and its more recent application as a diagnostic tool, the number of measurements of HbA1c have risen dramatically. However, HbA1c change is slow, so repeating measurements should not be done too often. We use a large, unfiltered dataset from 52,017 patients to determine the possible rate of change in HbA1c concentration. In our laboratory, the critical difference between HbA1c measurements is 8.5%. Our data show that a 1-unit HbA1c rise takes 4 weeks to occur, hence, at a HbA1c concentration around 50 mmol/mol Hgb, a critically increased HbA1c concentration cannot be determined until after 16 weeks. Conversely a critically lower HbA1c can manifest itself after 2 weeks, but after 7 weeks the dropping tendency stops. The amount of measurements that can be cancelled because they were taken sooner than 16 weeks is 23 percent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens K Munk
- a Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hvidovre University Hospital , Hvidovre , Denmark
| | - Bent S Lind
- a Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hvidovre University Hospital , Hvidovre , Denmark
| | - Henrik L Jørgensen
- a Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hvidovre University Hospital , Hvidovre , Denmark.,b Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen N , Denmark
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Tuthill JM. Decision Support to Enhance Automated Laboratory Testing by Leveraging Analytical Capabilities. Clin Lab Med 2019; 39:259-267. [PMID: 31036279 DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
To achieve effective laboratory automation, analytical capabilities must be developed to support data analysis. This allows for effective development and deployment of decision support strategies within the automated laboratory. Practically, these take the form of dashboards, static and real time; workflow processes, such as autoverification; reflex protocols; and testing cascades, which reduce errors of omission and commission. This requires data from the LIS and middleware that enable sophisticated laboratory automation lines. This article addresses the historical, current, and future state of laboratory analytics using examples and offering a framework to organize thinking around analytical capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Mark Tuthill
- Henry Ford Health System, 2799 W. Grand Boulevard, K-6 Pathology, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
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Nederlof M, Kupka RW, Braam AM, Egberts ACG, Heerdink ER. Evaluation of clarity of presentation and applicability of monitoring instructions for patients using lithium in clinical practice guidelines for treatment of bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2018; 20:708-720. [PMID: 30105767 PMCID: PMC6585994 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) aim to provide guidance to health care professionals on monitoring of patients using lithium. The aim was to assess the clarity of presentation and applicability of monitoring instructions for patients using lithium in CPGs for treatment of BD. METHODS CPGs for treatment of BD were selected from acknowledged professional organizations from multiple continents. CPGs were rated on the clarity of presentation and applicability of lithium monitoring instructions using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool. The applicability of monitoring instructions was assessed according to the Systematic Information for Monitoring (SIM) score. Monitoring instructions were considered applicable when a SIM score of ≥3 was found. RESULTS The clarity of presentation for six out of the nine CPGs was good (>70%) using the AGREE II tool. Only one CPG scored >70% on applicability. Descriptions of the resource implications and facilitators of and barriers to monitoring were most often missing. All CPGs contained instructions for monitoring of lithium serum levels and renal and thyroid function. Information provided in monitoring instructions (n = 247) was in general applicable to clinical practice (77%) based on the SIM score. Overall, a median SIM score of 3 (interquartile range 3-4) was found. CONCLUSIONS Improvement of the applicability of CPGs is recommended, and can be achieved by describing the resource implications and facilitators of and barriers to monitoring. In addition, information on critical values and instructions on how to respond to aberrant monitoring parameters are needed. With such improvements, CPGs may better aid health care professionals to monitor patients using lithium.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Nederlof
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical PharmacologyUtrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands,Brocacef ZiekenhuisfarmacieMaarssenThe Netherlands
| | - RW Kupka
- Department of PsychiatryVU University Medical CenterAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - AM Braam
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical PharmacologyUtrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - ACG Egberts
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical PharmacologyUtrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands,Clinical PharmacyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - ER Heerdink
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical PharmacologyUtrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands,Clinical PharmacyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands,Research Group Innovation of Pharmaceutical CareUniversity of Applied Sciences UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
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Rodriguez-Borja E, Corchon-Peyrallo A, Barba-Serrano E, Villalba Martínez C, Carratala Calvo A. “Send & hold” clinical decision support rules improvement to reduce unnecessary testing of vitamins A, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B6 and C. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 56:1063-1070. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2017-1031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
We assessed the impact of several “send & hold” clinical decision support rules (CDSRs) within the electronical request system for vitamins A, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B6 and C for all outpatients at a large health department.
Methods:
When ordered through electronical request, providers (except for all our primary care physicians who worked as a non-intervention control group) were always asked to answer several compulsory questions regarding main indication, symptomatology, suspected diagnosis, vitamin active treatments, etc., for each vitamin test using a drop-down list format. After samples arrival, tests were later put on hold internally by our laboratory information system (LIS) until review for their appropriateness was made by two staff pathologists according to the provided answers and LIS records (i.e. “send & hold”). The number of tests for each analyte was compared between the 10-month period before and after CDSRs implementation in both groups.
Results:
After implementation, vitamins test volumes decreased by 40% for vitamin A, 29% for vitamin E, 42% for vitamin K, 37% for vitamin B1, 85% for vitamin B2, 68% for vitamin B3, 65% for vitamin B6 and 59% for vitamin C (all p values 0.03 or lower except for vitamin B3), whereas in control group, the majority increased or remained stable. In patients with rejected vitamins, no new requests and/or adverse clinical outcome comments due to this fact were identified.
Conclusions:
“Send & hold” CDSRs are a promising informatics tool that can support in utilization management and enhance the pathologist’s leadership role as tests specialist.
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Birindelli S, Pasqualetti S, Panteghini M. Offering Aspartate Aminotransferase as a Reflex Test: An Easy but Effective Way to Improve Appropriateness of Laboratory Requests. Am J Clin Pathol 2018; 149:456-457. [PMID: 29547948 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqy015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Birindelli
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Pasqualetti
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Milan, Italy
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32
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Rubinstein M, Hirsch R, Bandyopadhyay K, Madison B, Taylor T, Ranne A, Linville M, Donaldson K, Lacbawan F, Cornish N. Effectiveness of Practices to Support Appropriate Laboratory Test Utilization: A Laboratory Medicine Best Practices Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Clin Pathol 2018; 149:197-221. [PMID: 29471324 PMCID: PMC6016712 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqx147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of practices used to support appropriate clinical laboratory test utilization. Methods This review followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory Medicine Best Practices A6 cycle method. Eligible studies assessed one of the following practices for effect on outcomes relating to over- or underutilization: computerized provider order entry (CPOE), clinical decision support systems/tools (CDSS/CDST), education, feedback, test review, reflex testing, laboratory test utilization (LTU) teams, and any combination of these practices. Eligible outcomes included intermediate, systems outcomes (eg, number of tests ordered/performed and cost of tests), as well as patient-related outcomes (eg, length of hospital stay, readmission rates, morbidity, and mortality). Results Eighty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Fifty-one of these studies could be meta-analyzed. Strength of evidence ratings for each practice ranged from high to insufficient. Conclusion Practice recommendations are made for CPOE (specifically, modifications to existing CPOE), reflex testing, and combined practices. No recommendation for or against could be made for CDSS/CDST, education, feedback, test review, and LTU. Findings from this review serve to inform guidance for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Thomas Taylor
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Anne Ranne
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | | | | | | | - Nancy Cornish
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Clustered interventions to reduce inappropriate duplicate laboratory tests in an Irish tertiary hospital. Clin Biochem 2018; 52:26-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Procalcitonin in the Emergency Department: A potential expensive over-request that can be modulated through institutional protocols. Am J Emerg Med 2018; 36:158-160. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Krintus M, Plebani M, Panteghini M. Improving clinical laboratory performance through quality indicators. Clin Biochem 2017; 50:547-549. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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36
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Lippi G, Panteghini M, Bernardini S, Bonfanti L, Carraro P, Casagranda I, Cavazza M, Ceriotti F, Ciaccio M, Coen D, Giavarina D, Giostra F, Paolillo C, Plebani M, Ricci G, Cervellin G. Laboratory testing in the emergency department: an Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC) and Academy of Emergency Medicine and Care (AcEMC) consensus report. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 56:1655-1659. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2017-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
The mainstay of patient-oriented laboratory testing in emergency settings entails selecting a number and the type of tests according to valid criteria of appropriateness. Since the pattern of urgent tests requesting is variable across different institutions, we designed a joined survey between the Academy of Emergency Medicine and Care (AcEMC) and the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC) for reaching tentative consensus about the most informative diagnostic tests in emergency settings.
Methods:
A survey, containing the most commonly ordered urgent laboratory tests and the relative clinical indications, was disseminated to eight relevant members of AcEMC and eight relevant members of SIBioC. All contributors were asked to provide numerical scores for the different laboratory parameters, where 1 indicated “strongly recommended”, 2 “recommended in specific circumstances”, and 3 “strongly discouraged”. The mean results of the survey were presented as the mean of responders’ values, and the parameters were finally classified as “strongly recommended” (mean value, 1.00–1.49), “weakly recommended” (mean value, 1.50–1.99), “discouraged” (mean value, 2.00–2.49) and “strongly discouraged” (mean value, 2.50–3.00).
Results:
The results of the survey allowed defining a hierarchy of priority, wherein 24 tests were “strongly recommended”. The use of five common tests was instead “strongly discouraged”. For 16 additional parameters in the list, the consensus ranged between “weakly recommended” and “discouraged”.
Conclusions:
We hope that results presented in this joint AcEMC-SIBioC consensus document may help harmonizing panel of tests and requesting patterns in emergency setting, at least at a national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry , University Hospital of Verona , P.le LA Scuro 10 , 37134 Verona , Italy
| | - Mauro Panteghini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” , University of Milan Medical School , Milan , Italy
| | - Sergio Bernardini
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery , Division of Clinical Biochemistry , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy
| | - Laura Bonfanti
- Emergency Department , Academic Hospital of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - Paolo Carraro
- Department of Laboratory Medicine , ULSS3 Serenissima , Mestre-Venezia , Italy
| | - Ivo Casagranda
- Emergency Department , “Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo” General Hospital , Alessandria , Italy
| | - Mario Cavazza
- Emergency Department , University Hospital “S. Orsola-Malpighi” , Bologna , Italy
| | - Ferruccio Ceriotti
- Ceriotti Ferruccio – Servizio di Medicina di Laboratorio , Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Medicine , Department of Biopathology and Medical Biotechnology , University of Palermo – U.O.C. Laboratory Medicine , Policlinico University Hospital , Palermo , Italy
| | - Daniele Coen
- Emergency Departement , Niguarda Metropolitan Hospital , Milan , Italy
| | | | | | - Ciro Paolillo
- Emergency Department , Academic Hospital of Udine , Udine , Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy
| | - Giorgio Ricci
- Emergency Department , University Hospital of Verona , Verona , Italy
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