Mapping Engine for Molecular Test Data Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing and ordering lab tests across disparate systems has increased due to the growing number of labs, tests, and data elements, leading to inefficiencies and errors in diagnostic testing processes.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system with a mapping engine that interacts with multiple systems to produce mappings of data elements for various diagnostic tests, enhancing decision-making by providing consistent and efficient test ordering, and reducing errors through a decision support map that compares test data elements across systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized data management system is used to manage lab test data across multiple labs and systems, then data consistency and decision support are improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mapping engine as an intermediary component that sits between the centralized data management system and multiple lab computer systems. This mapping engine translates and standardizes data elements from different lab systems into a common format, enabling data consistency without requiring direct integration between all systems. The mapping engine acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of cross-system data translation, thereby improving reliability while containing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data management architecture into distinct functional components: the centralized data management system, the mapping engine, and individual lab computer systems. By segmenting the system, each component can be developed and maintained independently. The mapping engine specifically handles the complexity of data translation, allowing the centralized system to focus on data consistency without being burdened by integration complexity of every individual lab system.
2Measurement precision
If manual mapping of test identifiers is performed to ensure accuracy, then mapping precision is improved, but time consumption and processing speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically generating initial mappings between test identifiers and decision support tests before manual review. The mapping engine pre-processes test directory files and creates draft mappings that are then presented to operators for verification and correction. This preliminary automated mapping reduces the time operators need to spend on manual mapping while maintaining precision through subsequent manual review of the pre-generated mappings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where operator corrections to automated mappings are fed back into the system to improve future automated mapping accuracy. The system learns from manual corrections and adjusts its mapping algorithms, thereby maintaining high mapping precision while reducing the need for extensive manual intervention over time. This feedback loop allows the system to progressively improve automation while preserving accuracy.
3Quantity of substance
If comprehensive test directory files are processed to cover all molecular tests, then data completeness is improved, but processing complexity and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by processing and mapping test data selectively based on specific criteria rather than uniformly processing all test data. The mapping engine focuses on mapping test identifiers to decision support tests based on relevant attributes and data elements that are locally optimized for each test type. This approach ensures comprehensive coverage of molecular tests while reducing processing complexity by applying specialized processing rules to different test categories rather than using a single complex processing framework for all tests.
Data Source
AI summary
Features and aspects provide systems that advantageously enhance decisioning related to diagnostic testing by providing a mapping engine that interacts with disparate data processing systems to provide mappings of data elements from stored information for various types of diagnostic tests, including molecular tests. The mappings are stored in a decision support map file and can be referenced when molecular tests are ordered by diagnosticians to improve consistency, speed, and efficiency. Additionally, automated decisioning regarding review of molecular test orders can be provided by the system.