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#14
LAB DATABASE MANAGEMENT: REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDING A NEW ASSAY.
Kevin A. Chesterton, CHT, Inessa Kaplan, John M. Hart, MBA,CHS, Mary S. Leffell, PhD and Andrea A. Zachary, PhD. Baltimore MD, USA, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205-2222, Medicine.

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One of the most difficult and challenging aspects of bringing a new assay into a lab is integrating the data in an existing database system. Our laboratory database contains more than 80,000 patient records. A patient record includes typing data on patients and families, crossmatch data, and antibody screening characterization. We have added three Luminex-based antibody assays to our testing repertoire. The screen data already existent were from CDC and ELISA assays. The Immunogenetics Laboratory system needed to be able to: (1) generate an updateable list of samples to be tested, (2) create printable and importable run lists, (3) import data, (4) store data in patient records, and (5) generate reports.
A user-friendly system was developed through collaborative efforts of the system administrator and a technologist. We will demonstrate the key system components and how this system reduces technologist time and clinical errors.