Screenshot Course Info

INTRODUCTION TO
LABORATORY
INFORMATICS:
LIFE OF A SPECIMEN

AN ONLINE LEARNING COURSE
AVAILABLE ON WWW.CDC.TRAIN.ORG

Sponsored by the
Division of Laboratory Systems,
Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This project was supported by Cooperative Agreement #NU60OE000103 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC or the Department
of Health and Human Services.

DESCRIPTION
Laboratory informatics is the specialized application of
information technology to enable and enhance scientific
processes and the delivery of laboratory information. It is a
critical part of today’s laboratory operations, helping to
ensure high quality and reliable data and results.
This basic-level eLearning course is the first of a two-part
introductory module on laboratory informatics. The
course provides information on the role and processes of
laboratory informatics through exploration of the “life of a
specimen” as a specimen moves through the laboratory.
Topics covered include the roles of various personnel in
the laboratory informatics enterprise, data relationships,
data quality and standards, and the generation and flow of
information as a specimen progresses through the preanalytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases.

At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be
able to:
·

·

AUDIENCE
This online course is designed for public health and clinical
laboratory staff (including managers and leaders) and
persons interested in the role and importance of
informatics to the operation and mission of the laboratory.
Learners who complete this course can then take the
second course in the two-part module− Introduction to
Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Course content is closed captioned, where applicable, and
optimized for a screen reader.

FREE REGISTRATION
·
·
·

OBJECTIVES

Locate the course online at www.cdc.gov/labtraining
Follow the link to register for the course in TRAIN
If you have difficulty with the online registration
process, please email labtraining@cdc.gov

·

·
·
·

Recognize what laboratory informatics is and
how it directly supports patient care and public
health goals
Identify who plays a role in laboratory
informatics and explain the purpose of each role
Identify the sequence of data and information
flow within the laboratory from specimen
collection/receipt to specimen storage/disposal
Recognize the importance of data quality and the
factors that impact data quality
Identify the different types of data standards and
the importance of using those standards
Define what a LIMS and LIS are, their capabilities,
and how they differ from other systems used in
the laboratory

CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Laboratory Systems is approved as a
provider of continuing education programs in the
clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.®
Program. This course is approved for 2 contact hours.
P.A.C.E.® course number: 288-006-18.

For a complete list of courses, visit www.cdc.gov/labtraining.

INTRODUCTION TO
LABORATORY
INFORMATICS:
LIFE OF A RESULT

AN ONLINE LEARNING COURSE
AVAILABLE ON WWW.CDC.TRAIN.ORG

Sponsored by the
Division of Laboratory Systems,
Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This project was supported by Cooperative Agreement #NU60OE000103 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC or the Department
of Health and Human Services.

DESCRIPTION
Laboratory informatics is the specialized application of
information technology to enable and enhance scientific
processes and the delivery of laboratory information. It is a
critical part of today’s laboratory operations, helping to
ensure high quality and reliable data and results.
This basic-level eLearning course is the second of a twopart introductory module on laboratory informatics. The
course provides information on the role and processes of
laboratory informatics through exploration of the “life of a
result” as data and results move through the laboratory
and outside the laboratory. Topics covered include
characterization of the recipients of laboratory data, data
and results storage, and the communication of data and
results (especially electronically) to various stakeholders.

AUDIENCE

At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be
able to:
·
·
·

This online course is designed for public health and clinical
laboratory staff (including managers and leaders) and
persons interested in the role and importance of
informatics to the operation and mission of the laboratory.
This course is intended for learners who have taken the
first course in the two-part module− Introduction to
Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Course content is closed captioned, where applicable, and
optimized for a screen reader.

FREE REGISTRATION
·
·
·

OBJECTIVES

Locate the course online at www.cdc.gov/labtraining
Follow the link to register for the course in TRAIN
If you have difficulty with the online registration
process, please email labtraining@cdc.gov

·

·
·

Identify where and how data and results are
stored inside the laboratory
Recognize how data and results are transmitted
inside and outside the laboratory to stakeholders
Identify two paths that data and results can
follow to impact the health of individual patients
and the public
Recognize how the proper recording, coding,
storage, and transmission of data and results can
impact patient care and public health
Identify what data standards are used, their
purpose, and components involved
Explain what Electronic Test Orders and Results
(ETOR), Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) and
Electronic Health Record (EHR) are and how they
differ

CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Laboratory Systems is approved as a
provider of continuing education programs in the
clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.®
Program. This course is approved for 2 contact hours.
P.A.C.E.® course number: 288-007-18.

For a complete list of courses, visit www.cdc.gov/labtraining.