Lab Interpretation Rules Overview

The interpretation rules are intended to reduce the workload of the infection control staff by reducing the volume of results that need to be reviewed using the Lab Inbox in RL6:Infection. These rules are configured during the implementation process after receiving input from the infection control staff about how they want the results processed. They can be modified after implementation should requirements change or new laboratory tests or organisms be introduced. When rules are changed they affect only those laboratory results that are updated after the change.

The spreadsheet RL6 Infection CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS.xlsx is provided to assist in the data collection process.

The rules provide controls over the laboratory tests, the organisms and the types of specimens within each result. The rules can only be applied where the laboratory provides sufficient detail in the result to allow a determination to be made. For example, if no specimen is stated then specimen based rules cannot be applied.

The rules are established after the receipt of the RL6 Infection CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS.xlsx when it has been completed by the client and reviewed by the infection control staff. Specifically the organism, specimen and laboratory test tabs are used.

If a result appears in the Lab Inbox, it will always appear also in the Patient Record. Some records may be filtered out prior to the message upload into RL6:Infection.