Lab Matters Summer 2018 | Page 88

APHL 2018 Annual Meeting Poster Abstracts

Quality Systems

A Quality-Integrated and Leadership-Focused Approach to Biorisk Management Training In West Africa

( complete abstract in Global Health , p . 61 )

New York City Public Health Laboratory Ordering and Reporting Portal

R . Garcia Guzman 1 , M . Moy 2 , A . Shaikh 1 , S . Alam 1 , J . Rakeman 1 ;

1

New York City Public Health Laboratory , New York , NY , 2 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene , New York , NY

The New York City Department of Health ( DOHMH ) Public Health Laboratory ( PHL ) receives more than 200,000 specimens annually from hospitals , private practitioners , law enforcement and other organizations for clinical , environmental and bioterrorism testing . Submitters are required to complete and attach a paper requisition specifying patient , submitter and test request information , with the specimen . Once the specimen arrives , laboratory staff must manually input the data into the laboratory information and management system ( LIMS ). Many specimens come to PHL with incomplete or incorrect paper requisitions . These problematic specimens require personnel time and constant communication with submitters to complete the data entry into the LIMS system . Ongoing issues with paper requisitions motivated DOHMH to develop a system that can decrease problematic cases and increase the efficiency of test ordering and reporting . In February 2016 , PHL received more than 4,000 specimens for Zika testing . Due to the high specimen volume , many with problem requisitions , the IT team at DOHMH quickly developed a web-based application which allowed NYC DOHMH Zika Testing Call Center staff to submit Zika test orders electronically in a system interfaced with the PHL LIMS . This significantly reduced workload for data entry staff at PHL . It also reduced tedious back and forth communication between submitters and data entry staff to correct or complete requisitions . From June 2016 to January 2018 , PHL has received 16,308 Zika test orders through this application . This success motivated PHL and IT teams to enhance the application to include all other PHL tests and to allow all NYC healthcare providers the ability to order tests and retrieve reports through the system . The application , named eOrder , makes it easier for both PHL and submitters to order PHL performed laboratory tests . The team had to provide all submitters , including clinical labs , private providers and others , access to the application while maintaining security . In addition , the system needed to be flexible , not too complicated for users and readily accessible 24 / 7 . Using different approaches including retrospective data analysis , the team was able to create a system that has been flexible yet straightforward and well received . As a result , PHL received fewer problem specimens and was able to allocate fewer staff to resolving these time consuming issues . Submitters are able to retrieve reports as soon as they are released , further reducing calls to PHL . In the future , PHL aims to refine eOrder further and to collaborate with submitters to interface with their own patient and / or laboratory information systems . An easy-to-use and accessible ordering system improves both PHL and submitter ’ s experience . By developing a web-based ordering and reporting system , PHL is able to provide better service to NYC and is better prepared for future outbreaks .

Presenter : Reyes Garcia Guzman , New York City Public Health Laboratory , New York , NY , Email : rgarciaguzman @ health . nyc . gov

Health Concerns Addressed in North Carolina Through Public Health Laboratory Practices

C . Daron and M . Mash ; North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health , Raleigh , NC

In the United States , both federal and state government scientists share a responsibility to address public health concerns to preserve the health and safety of their citizens . The Association of Public Health Laboratories ( APHL ), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), sponsored the Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship ( ID ) in 2017 – 2018 to allow scientists to explore public health initiatives related to infectious diseases . Two ID fellows assigned to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health ( NCSLPH ) worked to fulfill this commitment . Under the supervision of mentors and trained specialists , fellows assisted in the development and implementation of strategies to improve public health laboratory services impacting the health and well-being of North Carolina citizens . Through a collection of workshops , trainings and applied laboratory techniques , fellows worked to reduce laboratory acquired infections , highlight biosafety and biosecurity , improve laboratory-based arboviral disease surveillance , integrate MALDI-TOF technologies for bacterial identification and support influenza virus subtyping to enhance laboratory services to lessen the morbidity and mortality of communicable diseases in North Carolina . By utilizing an approach that encouraged the sharing of information and ideas gathered from their personalized fellowship experiences , the fellows acquired the appropriate knowledge and skills needed to better address areas of concern that may arise during careers in public health . The fellows plan to showcase public health issues encountered within the state of North Carolina , as well as problem-solving strategies applied throughout their ID fellowship experiences , to emphasize the way in which a state government addresses public health concerns affecting its citizens .

Presenter : Caitlyn Daron , MS , North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health , Raleigh , NC , Phone : 919.807.8943 , Email : caitlyn . daron @ dhhs . nc . gov

Using Process Mapping to Actively Improve Laboratory Processing in TB Contact Investigations

( complete abstract in Infectious Disease , p . 75 )

Validation of Instrumentation and Methodologies for CLIA-Certified Laboratories

R . Dixon , H-Y . Kan , P . Myers and L . Gleaton , South Carolina Public Health Laboratory , Columbia , SC

Public health and clinical diagnostic laboratories are responsible for providing detailed and accurate testing results to healthcare providers to screen and diagnose patients . Current and emerging technologies are implemented in public health laboratories to serve the community testing needs . The breadth of testing in a public health laboratory is across multiple disciplines . For example , congenital disorders and metabolic conditions screening , infectious disease testing , foodborne pathogens and contaminants , among other biomonitoring testing activities . This poster abstract will focus on the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments ( CLIA ) requirements for clinical screening and diagnostic tests . While the CLIA regulations require