Method and system for automatically distributing test samples and storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a test sample automatic distribution method and system and a storage medium, the system is composed of a sample management module, a personnel management module, a sample distribution module and a historical report module, to-be-reported data is pushed to a report system through a front-end service unit, and the report duration is dynamically preset in combination with the average period of a historical report; meanwhile, batch import and structured data processing are supported, sample information integrity can be automatically judged, intelligent allocation is performed according to a personnel scheduling table, personnel work allocation is optimized through a scientific allocation rule, the workload of reporting personnel is reasonably evaluated, work overstock or idle caused by unreasonable allocation is avoided, and the working efficiency is improved. Manual operation errors are reduced, and the accuracy and reliability of sample distribution are improved. The system automatically eliminates abnormal samples, ensures the accuracy of report duration statistics, further improves the management efficiency, and meets the requirements of modern medicine for high efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of detection reports.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical test sample management technology, and in particular to a method, system and storage medium for automatic allocation of test samples. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of modern medical technology, NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) technology, as a revolutionary detection method, has played an important role in disease diagnosis and treatment. Through high-throughput sequencing, NGS technology can rapidly and accurately obtain large amounts of genetic information, providing strong support for early disease diagnosis, precision treatment, and prognostic assessment. However, NGS technology also faces many challenges in practical applications, especially in the process of issuing sample test reports.

[0003] Limitations of existing technology: The operational process is complex: NGS projects involve multiple stages, such as wet experiments (sample collection, nucleic acid extraction, etc.) and dry experiments (bioinformatics analysis, clinical report interpretation, etc.). Among them, the dry experiment stage involves a large amount of data analysis and interpretation work, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.

[0004] Reporting timeliness issues: As clinical requirements for the timeliness of test reports continue to increase, the existing method of manually assigning reporting tasks is no longer sufficient to meet the needs. For example, bioinformatics analysis may be completed and results delivered in the evening or on holidays, but when manually assigning report interpreters, delays in report issuance often occur due to uncertain on-duty personnel or untimely assignments.

[0005] Inaccurate workload assessment: The difficulty of interpreting various NGS items varies, making it difficult to accurately assess the workload of reporting personnel based solely on the number of reports. Furthermore, reporting personnel operate on a shift system, requiring manual allocation based on daily on-call staff, which is not only labor-intensive but also prone to unreasonable allocation.

[0006] Manual assignment is inefficient: Manually assigning report tasks requires confirming the on-duty personnel and project participation status one by one, which is labor-intensive and prone to errors, especially when the sample size is large, resulting in low assignment efficiency.

[0007] Lack of scientific allocation basis: The existing allocation method does not fully consider the reporting time and staff scheduling, resulting in untimely report issuance and affecting the timeliness of clinical decision-making.

[0008] Unreasonable workload assessment: Assessing workload solely based on the number of reports fails to accurately reflect the actual workload of the reporting personnel, which is detrimental to personnel management and performance evaluation.

[0009] In summary, existing sample allocation methods have numerous problems in NGS technology applications, failing to meet the demands of modern medicine for efficient, accurate, and timely test reports. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a system and method that can automatically, scientifically, and rationally allocate samples to improve the timeliness of laboratory test reports and the rationality of personnel workload allocation, while reducing the workload of manual operations. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This invention proposes a method, system, and storage medium for automatic sample allocation, solving the problems mentioned in the background art. The technical solution of this invention is implemented as follows: A method for automatic sample allocation includes the following steps: Step S1: Receive the completed test sample data pushed by the front-end business unit. The sample data includes at least the item barcode, the patient's unique identification code, the sample number, and the structured result file, and preset the report duration for each test item. Step S2: Maintain the project participation information and scheduling data of the reporting personnel; Step S3: Automatically assign report issuers based on preset allocation rules. Prioritize the on-duty personnel of the day during allocation, and execute the following: If there are completed reports or samples to be interpreted for the same patient, assign them to the same reporting personnel; otherwise, assign them to the reporting personnel with the shortest current cumulative reporting time. If the time is the same, assign them randomly. Step S4: After the report is completed, compile the actual reporting cycle and personnel workload data.

[0011] Furthermore, step S1 includes: Step S11: Perform integrity verification on the sample information. Only samples containing item barcodes, patient unique identification codes, sample numbers, and structured result files are marked as pending allocation. Step S12: Samples lacking key information are returned for supplementation or the allocation process is terminated.

[0012] Furthermore, the report duration is dynamically updated in the following ways: The actual time taken from the start of report processing to the completion of report generation for each sample in historical projects; Exclude abnormal sample data that deviate from the average duration threshold; The preset value is manually adjusted based on the average duration of the remaining samples.

[0013] Furthermore, the cumulative reporting duration is calculated as follows: The preset reporting time for each reporting person who has not completed the sample is accumulated in real time; When assigning a new sample, the cumulative duration of the selected personnel will be increased by the preset report duration of the corresponding project for that sample.

[0014] An automated sample allocation system for testing includes: Sample Management Module: Configured to receive sample data, verify integrity, and manage project preset report duration; Personnel Management Module: Configured for maintaining project participation information and work schedules for personnel involved in reporting. Sample allocation module: configured to execute the allocation rules as described in any one of claims 1-4; Historical Reports Module: Configured to track actual reporting cycles and staff workload.

[0015] Furthermore, the sample management module includes: The sample status management unit is used to mark samples as either pending allocation or returned based on the integrity verification results. The project duration management unit is used to display the distribution of historical report durations and supports manual adjustment of preset values.

[0016] Furthermore, the personnel management module includes: The project personnel binding unit is used to configure the reporting personnel who can participate in each testing project; The dynamic scheduling unit supports importing monthly schedules and provides real-time shift modification functionality.

[0017] Furthermore, the sample allocation module includes: The patient consistency matching unit prioritizes assigning samples with the same patient identification code to the same reporting personnel; The work duration balancing unit dynamically allocates new samples based on the cumulative time that each person has not completed the samples.

[0018] Furthermore, the historical report module includes: The individual account statistics unit displays the completion volume of each project and the cumulative reporting time for the reporting personnel in real time for the current month; The timeout warning unit triggers an expedited alert when the remaining reporting time for a sample reaches zero.

[0019] A computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions stored thereon, which, when executed, implement the steps of an automatic sample allocation method.

[0020] Compared with existing technologies, this solution has the following advantages: 1. Improve report issuance efficiency: By automatically assigning report interpreters, the workload and time of manual assignment are reduced, significantly improving the efficiency of sample waiting for sorting, enabling reports to be issued more promptly and improving the overall work efficiency of the laboratory; 2. Optimize personnel work allocation: Allocation is based on the shift schedule and reporting duration of the report issuers, which can reasonably assess the workload of the report issuers and avoid work backlog or idleness caused by unreasonable allocation, so as to achieve the scientific and rational use of personnel resources; 3. Improve report timeliness: Dynamically manage reports based on their duration and prioritize assignment to interpreters with shorter report durations to ensure rapid report completion and better meet the high clinical requirements for test report timeliness; 4. Reduce human error: It avoids errors in sample allocation that may occur due to human negligence or inaccurate information during manual allocation, improves the accuracy and reliability of sample allocation, and reduces repetitive work and delays caused by allocation errors. 5. Facilitates workload statistics and management: The historical report module can track the actual time spent on reports and the number of reports completed by individual accounts, making it easier for managers to accurately assess the workload and performance of reporting personnel, which helps to optimize personnel management and workflow. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a framework diagram of an automatic sample allocation system provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a screenshot of the sample status interface of the sample module. Figure 3 This is a screenshot of the sample module project duration interface; Figure 4 This is a screenshot of the interface for personnel participating in projects within the personnel management module. Figure 5 This is a screenshot of the monthly staff scheduling interface in the personnel management module. Figure 6 This is a screenshot of the personal account interface for the historical reports module. Figure 7 Screenshot of the system homepage; Figure 8 This is a screenshot showing the cumulative duration of incomplete reports. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Reference Figure 1To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a method and system for automatic sample allocation. The system consists of four parts: a sample management module, a personnel management module, a sample allocation module, and a historical report module, thereby realizing the automatic allocation of samples.

[0025] The sample management module manages the database that can provide report samples and calculates the project report duration; the personnel management module manages the project report personnel and the monthly scheduling of report interpreters; the sample allocation module automatically allocates report interpreters according to preset rules. Historical report statistics are used to compile sample statistics for the reporting period and individual accounts.

[0026] Furthermore, the sample management module includes: a sample status management unit, used to mark samples as pending allocation or returned status based on integrity verification results; and a project duration management unit, used to display the historical report duration distribution and support manual adjustment of preset values.

[0027] The personnel management module includes: a project personnel binding unit, which is used to configure the reporting personnel who can participate in each testing project; and a dynamic scheduling unit, which supports importing monthly schedules and provides real-time modification of shifts.

[0028] The sample allocation module includes: a patient consistency matching unit, which prioritizes assigning samples with the same patient identification code to the same reporting personnel; and a work time balancing unit, which dynamically allocates new samples based on the cumulative time that each person has not completed samples.

[0029] The historical report module includes: a personal account statistics unit, which displays the completion amount and cumulative reporting time of each project for the reporting personnel in real time for the current month; and an overtime warning unit, which triggers an expedited reminder when the remaining reporting time of a sample reaches zero.

[0030] The sample management module's interface for managing system samples is shown below. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, it includes modules for sample data management and project duration management.

[0031] First, the sample enters the sample management module. The module checks the integrity of the data transmitted through the sample interface or the data imported in batches. The sample information must include the project barcode, patient unique identification code, sample code, and the structured result file required for each project report, which are preset in the sample automatic allocation system.

[0032] Secondly, if the sample information is complete, the sample status is determined to be a pending allocation stage; If the condition is not true, the sample status is in the parameter setting stage. Samples in this stage require manual intervention. The operation should be reversed to the previous stage, and the sample should be completed in the previous stage until it can enter the allocation stage or the operation in this stage is terminated. Samples that have been terminated will not enter the sample interpretation and allocation stage.

[0033] Based on the received and confirmed items, the sample manager can query the item duration in the sample management module. The item duration interface in the sample management module is as follows: Figure 3 As shown, on the one hand, the statistical scope is based on a sample of reports from the past six months of the project, using the time from the start of report processing to the completion of report generation as the basis for determining the project report duration. On the other hand, for the target sample data list for report duration selection, the system can automatically determine whether samples with abnormally long durations deviating from the average should be excluded from the statistics. Users can view the list of samples included in the statistics and their corresponding report durations, and can manually remove samples excluded from the report duration statistics. This ensures dynamic management of report duration as projects accumulate and report timeliness improves.

[0034] In the personnel management module, project participants can be fixed as follows: Figure 4 As shown. This setting is relatively fixed when the personnel remain the same. If there are personnel changes, participants can be added or deleted.

[0035] In the personnel scheduling management module, monthly personnel schedules can be imported in advance according to the system template, such as... Figure 5 As shown in the image. After importing, if there are shift changes, you can modify the shift switching options by right-clicking in the shift management menu and saving. Then, the shifts will be automatically reassigned according to the new on-duty personnel.

[0036] Before assigning samples, it is necessary to calculate the cumulative duration of incomplete reports for samples that have already been assigned, are in the "pending interpretation" status, and have not yet been reported, based on the interpretation personnel, for different projects. The statistics are as follows: Figure 8 .

[0037] For the samples to be allocated, rule 1 is followed: identical samples are preferentially allocated to the same person. The first step is to search for the report interpreter in the list of completed reports and samples awaiting interpretation based on the patient's unique identification code. If the interpreter is listed among the project participants, the sample is allocated to that interpreter. The second step is to proceed with the allocation process in the same way as other interpreters not listed in the list of completed reports and samples awaiting interpretation.

[0038] If a patient in a sample is not on the list of completed reports and samples awaiting interpretation, or if the interpreter is not participating in the project, the sample will be assigned to an interpreter with a shorter report duration, according to Rule 2. If candidate interpreters have the same cumulative report duration, the sample will be randomly assigned. After the samples are assigned according to the above principles, the sample status will enter the waiting-to-interpretation stage. The personal account interface will then display the report assignment time, the remaining time for the report cycle set according to the project, and the order of subsequent interpretations based on urgency. If the remaining time for the cycle reminder is 0, it will be marked as an expedited reminder.

[0039] In the historical report system module, you can view and analyze the actual report duration of all reports based on different projects and the time period in which the reports were published.

[0040] In addition, the historical reports module displays statistics on the number of reports completed by each reporter. The historical reports module also includes statistics for individual accounts, such as... Figure 6 As shown, reporting personnel, based on their different account permissions, can view the completion volume and cumulative reporting time for each project this month, according to the duration and the number of reports completed, making it convenient for individuals to understand the assessment of their work completed this month.

[0041] A comparison of the time taken to complete 20 samples using the above-mentioned automated sampling system is shown in Table 1 below. The time taken for manual and automated sampling of these 20 samples is significantly reduced. The system clearly shortens the sample waiting time and decreases the workload of manual sampling.

[0042] Table 1: Comparison of sampling time between manual and systematic sampling

[0043] This solution proposes a system and method for automatic sample allocation, specifically targeting the report generation process for samples from different laboratory tests. It aims to address issues such as low sample allocation efficiency, unreasonable staff workload allocation, and untimely report generation in existing technologies. The system comprises a sample management module, a staff management module, a sample allocation module, and a historical report module. It pushes data to be reported to the reporting system through front-end business units and dynamically presets report durations based on the average historical report cycle. It also supports batch import and structured data processing, automatically assesses sample information completeness, and intelligently allocates samples according to staff schedules.

[0044] In terms of technical means, the sample management module is responsible for managing the sample database and calculating project report durations, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of sample information; the personnel management module maintains the scheduling and participation of project personnel, supporting flexible personnel adjustments; the sample allocation module automatically allocates report interpreters according to preset rules, prioritizing the allocation of samples from the same patient and interpreters with shorter report durations; the historical report module is used to statistically analyze the workload of reporting cycles and individual accounts, facilitating management and evaluation. In addition, the system also has an automatic abnormal sample exclusion function to ensure the accuracy of report duration statistics.

[0045] Based on the experimental data presented in the briefing, the beneficial effects of this scheme are significant. Experimental data shows that for 20 samples, manual allocation takes an average of approximately 5 minutes per sample, while automatic allocation by the system takes an average of only about 0.1 minutes per sample, significantly reducing the waiting time for sample allocation. For example, manual allocation of sample 1 took 8 hours and 30 minutes, while automatic allocation by the system took only 11 minutes, an efficiency improvement of nearly 40 times. This result demonstrates that this scheme greatly improves sample allocation efficiency and reduces manual operation time.

[0046] Furthermore, this solution optimizes personnel workload allocation through scientific allocation rules, reasonably assesses the workload of reporting personnel, and avoids work backlogs or idle time caused by unreasonable allocation. For example, the system prioritizes assigning samples from the same patient to the same interpreter; if no matching patient or interpreter is available, it prioritizes assigning samples to interpreters with shorter report durations, ensuring rapid report completion. This mechanism not only improves the timeliness of reports but also meets the high clinical requirements for test reports.

[0047] Meanwhile, this solution reduces human error and improves the accuracy and reliability of sample allocation. The system automatically excludes outlier samples, ensuring the accuracy of report duration statistics and further improving management efficiency. The historical report module facilitates accurate workload assessment and performance evaluation for reporting personnel, helping to optimize personnel management and workflows.

[0048] In conclusion, this solution not only improves the timeliness of laboratory test reports but also enhances overall work efficiency and management level, demonstrating significant practicality and innovation.

[0049] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for automatic sample allocation, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step S1: Receive the completed test sample data pushed by the front-end business unit. The sample data includes at least the item barcode, the patient's unique identification code, the sample number, and the structured result file, and preset the report duration for each test item. Step S2: Maintain the project participation information and scheduling data of the reporting personnel; Step S3: Automatically assign report issuers based on preset allocation rules. Prioritize the on-duty personnel of the day during allocation, and execute the following: If there are completed reports or samples to be interpreted for the same patient, assign them to the same reporting personnel; otherwise, assign them to the reporting personnel with the shortest current cumulative reporting time. If the time is the same, assign them randomly. Step S4: After the report is completed, compile the actual reporting cycle and personnel workload data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S1 includes: Step S11: Perform integrity verification on the sample information. Only samples containing item barcodes, patient unique identification codes, sample numbers, and structured result files are marked as pending allocation. Step S12: Samples lacking key information are returned for supplementation or the allocation process is terminated.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The report duration is dynamically updated in the following ways: The actual time taken from the start of report processing to the completion of report generation for each sample in historical projects; Exclude abnormal sample data that deviate from the average duration threshold; The preset value is manually adjusted based on the average duration of the remaining samples.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cumulative reporting duration is calculated as follows: The preset reporting time for each reporting person who has not completed the sample is accumulated in real time; When assigning a new sample, the cumulative duration of the selected personnel will be increased by the preset report duration of the corresponding project for that sample.

5. An automatic sample allocation system for testing, characterized in that, include: Sample Management Module: Configured to receive sample data, verify integrity, and manage project preset report duration; Personnel Management Module: Configured for maintaining project participation information and work schedules for personnel involved in reporting. Sample allocation module: configured to perform the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1-4; Historical Reports Module: Configured to track actual reporting cycles and staff workload.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sample management module includes: The sample status management unit is used to mark samples as either pending allocation or returned based on the integrity verification results. The project duration management unit is used to display the distribution of historical report durations and supports manual adjustment of preset values.

7. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The personnel management module includes: The project personnel binding unit is used to configure the reporting personnel who can participate in each testing project; The dynamic scheduling unit supports importing monthly schedules and provides real-time shift modification functionality.

8. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sample allocation module includes: The patient consistency matching unit prioritizes assigning samples with the same patient identification code to the same reporting personnel; The work duration balancing unit dynamically allocates new samples based on the cumulative time that each person has not completed the samples.

9. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The historical report module includes: The individual account statistics unit displays the completion volume of each project and the cumulative reporting time for the reporting personnel in real time for the current month; The timeout warning unit triggers an expedited alert when the remaining reporting time for a sample reaches zero.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions thereon, characterized in that, When the instruction is executed, it performs the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1-4.

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