Laboratory Data Exchange

Definition:  

Sharing information on laboratory test results and testing demographics is essential for effective disease tracking and emergency response in public health. Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) play pivotal roles in facilitating this information exchange. Both private and public laboratories use LIMS to manage samples and associated data, enabling the identification of reportable diseases, and generating ELRs for transmission to relevant public health agencies. 

National Picture:   

On a national scale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages the maintenance and enhancement of LIMS in public health laboratories. With an understanding of current barriers, the CDC supports the implementation of Electronic Test Orders and Result Reporting (ETOR), as part of its Public Health Data Strategy (PHDS), to improve data completeness and accuracy compared to traditional paper requisition forms.  

The CDC’s ETOR and ELR goals for the end of 2024 include: 

• 100 percent ETOR usage in state public health labs  
• 75 percent of laboratory reports received by jurisdictions are ELRs 
• Almost 100 percent of Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) recipients are connected to multiple intermediaries for lab data  

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the onboarding of ELR reporters, significantly increasing ELR volume from 30 million reports a year to nearly 50 million a month. While public health agencies achieved high percentages of automated reporting, data quality issues emerged from the rapid onboarding processes, necessitating cleanup efforts. Despite challenges, these initiatives contribute to a more robust and efficient public health data infrastructure. 

• Alaska increases lab reports received via electronic methods
• Connecticut manages astronomical increase in lab results reporting using​ innovative, efficient solutions
• Guam is implementing a new integrated Laboratory Information Management System
• Introducing data transport malleability into Hawaiʻi’s electronic laboratory reporting systems during Omicron
• Michigan uses a fork in the road to address electronic laboratory reporting traffic jams
• Michigan uses report cards to enhance electronic laboratory reporting data completeness
• The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene developed methods to quickly identify when laboratories stop sending disease reports
• North Carolina enables interstate electronic laboratory report exchange for COVID-19 with Virginia
• COVID-19 electronic reporting and data quality in Oklahoma
• Oregon establishes an electronic laboratory reporting data quality assurance protocol
• Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories mobilization of resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Utah connects public health data with school enrollment and attendance
• Assay development improvements at the South Carolina Public Health Laboratory
• Electronic faxing (eFaxing) in Texas
• Wisconsin builds cutting-edge molecular testing infrastructure to respond to infectious diseases