Using an implementation science framework, we detail how a national system for covering both standard and telemedicine laboratory testing would support a national PrEP program. Implementation strategies that will facilitate success include minimizing provider burden through uncomplicated billing systems and minimizing patient burden through centralized, online access systems. We anticipate that providing telemedicine and in-person laboratory testing options will optimize PrEP care by making it less burdensome, leading to cost-effective healthcare and improved population health.

Background: Patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) may be subjected to unnecessary bloodwork. This leads to excessive work for front-line nurses, physicians and laboratory staff, contributing to increased ED length of stay (LOS), patient discomfort, and health care costs. Aim Statement: By January 1, 2020, we will reduce the number of targeted blood tests (AST, GGT, aPTT and CK) by 40% in the Mount Sinai ED, as measured by the percent per 1000 ED visits of AST to ALT, GGT to ALT, aPTT to INR and CK to troponin. Measures & Design: This was a prospective time series quality improvement study. Using the Model for Improvement, we engaged front-line ED staff, as well as stakeholders from Consultant, Laboratory and Information Services. Data was analyzed using run chart rules. Intervention: a) Removed rarely used tests from electronic nursing order sets b) Uncoupled order panels c) Developed six presentation-based medical directives with appropriate blood testing. d) Staff education Family of measures Outcomes: percent of targeted uncoupled test per 1000 ED visits for each of AST to ALT, GGT to ALT, aPTT to INR, and CK to troponin; Total number of blood tests ordered per 1000 ED visits Process: number of “separate and hold” tubes; number of blood tubes used in the ED; proportion of staff attending education Balancing: volume of blood drawn; LOS Evaluation/Results: Outcome: Estimated relative reduction in proportion of all uncoupled tests per 1000 ED visits by: • 33% AST/ALT • 52% GGT/ALT • 50% CK/troponin •18% aPTT/INR Total number of lab tests per 1000 ED visits decreased by 7.7% (5742 to 5331). Evidence of special cause variation on all outcomes. Process measures: 1. 100% reduction in weekly “Separate and Hold” tubes (56 to 0). 2. Monthly total of blood tubes used in the ED decreased by 2.8% (11620 to 11300) 3. Attendance pending. Balancing measures: Monthly average volume of blood drawn decreased by 1.4L(2%) from 50.4L to 49.0L; LOS pending Discussion/Impact: A multi-pronged intervention resulted in a decrease in blood testing in the ED. We achieved the sub-aim of reducing targeted blood tests and are on track to achieve the overall aim of total lab reduction in the ED by April 2020. Final interventions to be implemented in the coming months include changes to the ED paper record and replacement of the paper add-on order process with an electronic ordering tool. Complete data will be available by April 2020. This intervention is scalable and has the potential to reduce costs and preventable harm to patients.

Background: Hemolysis of blood samples is the leading cause of specimen rejection from hospital laboratories. It contributes to delays in patient care and disposition decisions. Coagulation tests (prothrombin time/international normalized ratio [PT/INR] and activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]) are especially problematic for hemolysis in our academic hospital, with at least one sample rejected daily from the emergency department (ED). Aim Statement: We aimed to decrease the monthly rate of hemolyzed coagulation blood samples sent from the ED from a rate of 2.9% (53/1,857) to the best practice benchmark of less than 2% by September 1st, 2019. Measures & Design: Our outcome measure was the rate of hemolyzed coagulation blood samples. Our process measure was the rate of coagulation blood tests sent per 100 ED visits. Our balancing measure was the number of incident reports by clinicians when expected coagulation testing did not occur. We used monthly data for our Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts, as well as Chi square and Mann-Whitney U tests for our before-and-after evaluation. Using the Model for Improvement to develop our project's framework, we used direct observation, broad stakeholder engagement, and process mapping to identify root causes. We enlisted nursing champions to develop our Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles/interventions: 1) educating nurses on hemolysis and coagulation testing; 2) redesigning the peripheral intravenous and blood work supply carts to encourage best practice; and 3) removing PT/INR and aPTT from automatic inclusion in our electronic chest pain bloodwork panel. Evaluation/Results: The average rate of hemolysis remained unchanged from baseline (2.9%, p = 0.83). The average rate of coagulation testing sent per 100 ED visits decreased from 41.5 to 28.8 (absolute decrease 12.7 per 100, p < 0.05), avoiding $4,277 in monthly laboratory costs. The SPC chart of our process measure showed special cause variation with greater than eight points below the centerline. Discussion/Impact: Our project reduced coagulation testing, without changing hemolysis rates. Buy-in from frontline nurses was integral to the project's early success, prior to implementing our electronic approach – a solution ranked higher on the hierarchy of intervention effectiveness – to help sustainability. This resource stewardship project will now be spread to a nearby institution by utilizing similar approaches.

Introduction: Understanding factors that influence laboratory test ordering in emergency departments (EDs) can help to improve current laboratory test ordering practices. The aim of this study is to compare patterns and influences in laboratory test ordering between emergency physicians and nurses at two ED sites, Halifax Infirmary (HI) and Dartmouth General (DG). Methods: A mixed-methods approach involving administrative data and telephone interviews was employed. Data from 211,279 patients at HI and DG EDs were analyzed. Chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression were used to determine significant factors influencing whether a test was ordered, as well as significant factors predicting likelihood of a nurse or a physician ordering a test. All significant associations had a p-value of <0.0001. Interviews were conducted (n=25) with doctors and nurses in order to explore areas of potential influence in a clinician’s decision-making process, and discuss what makes decision making difficult or inconsistent in the ED. These interviews were analyzed according to the Theoretical Domains Framework. The interviews were coded by two individuals using a consensus methodology in order to ensure accuracy of coding. Results: Overall, laboratory tests were more likely to be ordered at DG than at HI (OR=1.52, 95% CI: [1.48, 1.55]). Laboratory tests were more likely to be ordered by nurses at DG than at HI (OR=1.58, 95% CI: [1.54, 1.62]). Laboratory tests were more likely to be ordered if the ED was not busy, if the patient was over 65, had a high acuity, had a long stay in the ED, required consults, or was admitted to hospital. Doctors were more likely to order a laboratory test in patients over 65, requiring consults or hospital admission, whereas nurses were more likely to order laboratory tests in patients with high acuity or long stays in the ED. Data from the interviews suggested differing influences on decision making between nurses and doctors, especially in the areas of social influence and knowledge. Conclusion: Currently, there is limited research that investigates behaviour of both emergency physicians and nurses. By determining barriers that are most amenable to behaviour change in emergency physicians and nurses, findings from this work may be used to update practice guidelines, ensuring more consistency and efficiency in laboratory test ordering in the ED.

Introduction: With rising health care costs impairing access to care, the judicious use of diagnostic tests has become a critical issue for most jurisdictions. Among tests regularly performed in the emergency department (ED), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) laboratory testing represents an annual expenditure of more than $4 million for the Québec health care system. We then sought to determine the best indications for ordering these serum levels by identifying patient risk factors predicting abnormal results. Methods: We are conducting a retrospective cohort study in two academic hospitals of Québec City, one providing acute general care and the other providing specialized care to oncologic and nephrologic patients. We included 1000 patients who had serum Ca and/or Mg and/or P levels prescribed by an emergency physician between January 1st 2016 and May 1st 2016. We are collecting demographic (e.g. age) and clinical (e.g. comorbidities) characteristics identified from literature review as potential explanatory variables of an abnormal serum level. Predictive models of a positive test result will be derived from logistic regressions. Results: We have evaluated 143 patients. ED prevalence rates of hypo- and hyper-calcemia (10.1% and 4,3%), hypo- and hyper-magnesemia (13.0% and 7,2%), hypo- and hyper-phosphatemia (9.5% and 13,9%) were similar to those reported in literature. Preliminary bivariate analysis (p<0.05) have shown that, for patients who had serum Ca/Mg/P levels prescribed, one in four complained of weakness, one in five complained of abdominal pain and one in five presented on physical examination an abnormal mental status. Acute and chronic renal failure appears to be a strong predictor of anomalies of any of those electrolytes. Neoplasia, metastasis, hallucinations, bone pain and confusion are more specifically associated with hypercalcemia. Use of corticosteroids is associated with hypocalcemia. Conclusion: Our bivariate analyses have identified potential risk factors of abnormal Ca/Mg/P results. Multivariate logistic regressions will be conducted on the complete planned cohort to further test these preliminary results.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium species are protozoan parasites capable of causing gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals through the ingestion of infective faeces. Whereas Cryptosporidium species can be acquired locally or through foreign travel, there is the mis-conception that giardiasis is considered to be largely travel-associated, which results in differences in laboratory testing algorithms. In order to determine the level of variation in testing criteria and detection methods between diagnostic laboratories for both pathogens across Scotland, an audit was performed. Twenty Scottish diagnostic microbiology laboratories were invited to participate with questions on sample acceptance criteria, testing methods, testing rates and future plans for pathogen detection. Reponses were received from 19 of the 20 laboratories representing each of the 14 territorial Health Boards. Detection methods varied between laboratories with the majority performing microscopy, one using a lateral flow immunochromatographic antigen assay, another using a manually washed plate-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and one laboratory trialling a plate-based EIA automated with an EIA plate washer. Whereas all laboratories except one screened every stool for Cryptosporidium species, an important finding was that significant variation in the testing algorithm for detecting Giardia was noted with only four laboratories testing all diagnostic stools. The most common criteria were ‘travel history’ (11 laboratories) and/or ‘when requested’ (14 laboratories). Despite only a small proportion of stools being examined in 15 laboratories for Giardia (2%–18% of the total number of stools submitted), of interest is the finding that a higher positivity rate was observed for Giardia than Cryptosporidium in 10 of these 15 laboratories. These findings highlight that the underreporting of Giardia in Scotland is likely based on current selection and testing algorithms.

In the field and laboratory, Gossypium arboreum varieties G 27, LD 133 and LD 230 were less preferred by the jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula, and the aphid, Aphis gossypii, than G. hirsutum variety, F 414. The arboreum varieties also supported fewer numbers of the two sucking pests than the hirsutum cotton. These varieties proved potentially susceptible to bollworms Earias spp and Pectinophora gossypiella damage in laboratory tests. Interestingly the varieties exhibited considerable degrees of field resistance. In the field, Earias moths showed no preference for any plant part for oviposition among the four cotton varieties. Of the reproductive parts of the cotton plant offered, first and last instar Earias vittella larvae orientated maximally to bud. Nonetheless, the larvae showed no definite pattern of preference for the fruiting structures of the cotton plant. In the laboratory, the four varieties showed non-significant differences in supporting the growth of Earias and Pectinophora larvae. The number of Earias eggs on the four varieties did not vary significantly. The number of fruiting bodies per plant and Earias incidence were unrelated in the four varieties.