Lab Industry Terminology
This list contains common acronyms used in the lab industry.
- ABN: Advanced beneficiary notice, a form that discloses to Medicare patients that the testing the doctor has ordered is not expected to be covered by Medicare for either diagnosis or frequency limitation issues. The patient acknowledges that they understand that the test will likely not be paid by Medicare and they are assuming financial liability for it. Without a signed ABN, the patient cannot be billed for the test if Medicare denies it.
- AOE: Ask on-order entry questions and supplementary questions for a test. The answers to the test help the lab staff/scientists interpret the results. A good example is prenatal testing. The lab will need to know certain information regarding the pregnancy.
- Bidirectional: A type of interface that involves both sending lab orders and receiving results via the EHR
- bioTE: An auxiliary account type for hormones
- CDC: Clinical Data Compendium, the global compendium for Quest
- CLIA: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act. CLIA inspects and gives labs licensure to operate.
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Connectivity: How electronic communication between EHR <> Lab Vendor works. There are two options for connectivity at the time this guide is written.
- TCP/IP VPN, continuous streaming (This is our form of connectivity)
- FTP, File Transfer Protocol
- DermPath: An independent dermatology laboratory company that Quest Diagnostics acquired
- FTP: File Transfer Protocol, a network protocol for transferring files
- HL7: A format of the message structure. This is the way we deliver and receive communications between the EHR and the lab.
- HORI: Hub Orders and Results Interface (Quest)
- Hub: Web-based repository, where vendor orders come in
- LOINC: Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes: A universal lab code reporting database used as a standard for identifying lab and clinical observations. (If needed, LOINC codes are available per test, on the Quest Diagnostics website. They are listed under the testing menu) (ex https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/6399/cbc-includes-differential-and-platelets?p=r&q=6399&cc=PHP)
- MSH: Message Segment Header, is used to define the intent, source, and destination of a message. This is formatted at the start of an HL7 transmission.
- MSH-3: Sending Application - Our application, uniquely identifies us among all other vendors.
- MSH-4: Sending Facility - Identifies the originator of the message, including the client ID of the customer as well as the CLIA identifier. CLIA number is auto-added to the HL7 in our system.
- MSH-5: Receiving Application - Identifies the receiver of the message.
- MSH-6: Receiving Facility - A two or three-digit identifier used to identify a postal code. This indicates a laboratory location. The provider will send orders to this local laboratory for processing.
- Panel: a series of tests where the doctor can order 1 test code and receive multiple individual tests. For example, there is a General Health Panel that can be ordered via a single test code. When it results, the doctor will receive results for a CBC, a CMP, and a TSH. Each of the tests can be ordered separately; or if all 3 are needed, the doctor can increase their efficiency by ordering via the single test code rather than having to select all 3. There is no difference in testing or price whether ordered within or outside of a panel. The panel is for ease of order only. Some payers will not pay for codes ordered separately that typically are bundled. A good example is the General Health Panel as mentioned above.
- PASO: Primary Account Setup Only
- Project: An interface setup for a client is referred to as a project
- Receiving Application: See MSH-5
- Receiving Facility: See MSH-6
- Reference Lab: A private lab testing facility that is used for specialized testing. Examples include Ambry Genetics, Athena Diagnostics, and Esoterix Endocrinology. These reference labs have established relationships with larger clinical labs such as Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. If a provider needs a test run by one of these labs, the patient's specimen is sent to Quest/LabCorp, and then forwarded to one of the reference labs for specialized testing. Results will filter back through Quest/LabCorp and to the provider via their normal method (EHR/fax/etc).
- Results-only interface (Unidirectional): Customer uses LabCorp or Quest interface to order results, not DrChrono but does receive results via the interface/EHR
- SASO: Secondary Account Setup Only
- Structured Data: Receiving and storing information discretely as data objects versus a PDF printout. This can be used to make charts or interfaces that provide additional details to customers.
- Unidirectional: See "results only interface"
- VPN: Virtual Private Network, a way of sharing data via the internet in a secure fashion
- VPN - ASP Single Port: The type of connectivity of our interface