Standards Updates and Vocabulary Working Group
Purpose
The work group will recommend use of vocabulary and associated standards in support of interoperability of laboratory results. Interoperability of laboratory results is defined as machine level recognition of which results are comparable and trendable. Lab orders and metadata associated with the order (e.g. ask at order entry questions) would be addressed insofar as coding an IVD (LIVD) by manufacturers would be helpful in recognizing comparability of lab results.
Scope
Currently In-Scope:
Vocabulary standards (SNOMED CT, LOINC, UCUM)
Supporting messaging/transport standards (HL7 v2 and FHIR)
Supporting identifier standards (device identifiers [UDI], test kit identifiers [reagent/lot], specimen container identifiers, GS1 supply chain identifiers [inventory], [blood bank] product identifiers)
Supporting information and data models (data elements, pre vs post coordination, order level metadata [ask at order entry question responses], clinical information, procedure/method metadata [e.g. antibody, point-of-care vs routine, processing steps, etc.])
Any and all laboratory tests utilized for clinical care or public health in the USA today except direct access testing (FDA approved and laboratory developed tests [LDTs]).
Currently Out-of-Scope:
Billing coding systems (CPT, HCPCS, PLA)
Experimental and/or research-only tests.
Non-laboratory data.
Implementation guidance.
Policy and regulations.
Translation from other languages to English.
Direct access testing (DAT) / consumer performed testing.
Call information
Every third Tuesday of the month startign April 15, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://meet.google.com/bsw-mxuu-kqm
Participants
Name | Organization | Role |
|---|---|---|
Steven Emrick | PurpleLab | Co-Chair |
Julia Skapik | HL7 | Co-Chair Steering Committee member |
Scott Campbell | UNMC | Co-Chair (past) Steering Committee member |
Raj Dash | College of American Pathologists (CAP) | Co-Chair (past) Steering Committee member |
Dan Rutz | Epic | Steering Committee member |
Muktha Natrajan | CDC | |
Anne Peruski (Secondary) | CDC | |
Andrea Pitkus | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Steering Committee member |
Xavier Gansel | bioMérieux | Steering Committee member |
Stan Huff | Graphite Health | Steering Committee member |
John Snyder | NLM | Steering Committee member |
Rob Hausam | Hausam Consulting | |
Marjorie Rollins | Regenstrief | Steering Committee member |
Amy McCormick (secondary) | Epic | |
Nanguneri Nirmala | Tufts Medical Center | Steering Committee member |
Mehdi Nassiri | Indiana University/Indiana University Health/Association for Molecular Pathology | Steering Committee member |
Eza Hafeza | Regenstrief | Steering Committee member |
Jim Case | Snomed International | Steering Committee member |
Mary Kennedy | CAP |
Projects
Project Name [include link to the filled out project template file] | Brief Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
Xavier project around result codes - qualitative (all lab domains) | https://aphlinformatics.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/1887437089/Shield Project Report Biomerieux 28Mar23.docx?api=v2 | 1 |
Xavier project around result codes - micro-organism | ||
Xavier project around result codes - AST | ||
Xavier project around result codes - microscopic and culture observations | ||
Specimen CMT content / adoption | ||
surgical synoptic reporting | ||
Anatomic Pathology Structured Reporting (cancer pathology) | ||
Structured genomics reporting (WGS, biomarkers, etc.) | ||
Test naming conventions | ||
UDI representation (also discussion in LIDR WG) | ||
Definition of lab test and lab order | #1 modeling of lab tests as procedures vs observables #2 how that affects modeling of the respective order #3 dealing with one-click panels like the stroke panel, which in itself has many panels in it - how to deal with “exploding panels” #4 Dealing with panels in reflex testing (susceptibility testing panel as part of the reporting per organism) |
Collected References:
presentation mentioned from L.J. (Joost) van Pelt, J.M.E.P. (Judith) Gillis “Exchanging laboratory results in the Netherlands: it should and it is possible, but with care!” at the last LOINC conference (2022 LOINC Conference - France) - must have LOINC 2022 registration to view, but has abstract