Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How can business intelligence tools help with pet lab tests?
By Pozzato, Nicola et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2021·Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Business intelligence tools to optimize the appropriateness of the diagnostic process for clinical and epidemiologic purposes in a multicenter veterinary pathology service.
- Species:
- rabbit
Plain-English summary
Veterinary laboratory tests are becoming increasingly important for diagnosing health issues in animals, and this has led to the development of standardized testing protocols at a veterinary institution in Italy. They have created 72 specific protocols for different types of animals, including livestock, poultry, and pets, which help veterinarians choose the right tests based on the animal's species, age, and health problems. Each protocol includes a list of necessary tests and additional ones that may be helpful for making a diagnosis. The institution also uses a web-based reporting system to track and update test results, ensuring that they follow the established guidelines and can adapt to changes in disease patterns. Overall, these efforts aim to improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosing animal health issues.
Abstract
Laboratory tests provide essential support to the veterinary practitioner, and their use has grown exponentially. This growth is the result of several factors, such as the eradication of historical diseases, the occurrence of multifactorial diseases, and the obligation to control endemic and epidemic diseases. However, the introduction of novel techniques is counterbalanced by economic constraints, and the establishment of evidence- and consensus-based guidelines is essential to support the pathologist. Therefore, we developed standardized protocols, categorized by species, type of production, age, and syndrome at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), a multicenter institution for animal health and food safety. We have 72 protocols in use for livestock, poultry, and pets, categorized as, for example, "bovine enteric calf", "rabbit respiratory", "broiler articular". Each protocol consists of a panel of tests, divided into 'mandatory' and 'ancillary', to be selected by the pathologist in order to reach the final diagnosis. After autopsy, the case is categorized into a specific syndrome, subsequently referred to as a syndrome-specific panel of analyses. The activity of the laboratories is monitored through a web-based dynamic reporting system developed using a business intelligence product (QlikView) connected to the laboratory information management system (IZILAB). On a daily basis, reports become available at general, laboratory, and case levels, and are updated as needed. The reporting system highlights epidemiologic variations in the field and allows verification of compliance with the protocols within the organization. The diagnostic protocols are revised annually to increase system efficiency and to address stakeholder requests.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33769152/