With the spike of Covid19 cases, the national reference laboratory data entry team was overwhelmed and as result the turnaround time from sample collection to result dissemination increased. To tackle this challenge, the Rwanda MoH tasked the Digital Health team in collaboration with HISP-Rwanda to find a quick solution that would restore the standard turnaround time. The digital health team and HISP-Rwanda approached the Lab teams to evaluate the challenges causing the delay, and the following were identified:
- Delays at Sample reception caused by manual sample checking
- Delays on results manual data entry
To tackle the challenge, it was decided to develop a web-based Layer between the testing Machines and DHIS2 that uses DHIS-2 powerful API to interact with existing DHIS-2 surveillance instance. The platform allows for:
Sample reception process bulk upload
- Lab codes checks
- Error warning for mismatch codes (Red)
- Lab request auto check
- Error warning for missing lab request (Red)
- Date checks
- Sample reception data entry
Results bulk upload
- Code checks
- Dates check
- Bulk import of results
- Sends SMS
The implementation of the Covid Lab Automation Platform significantly reduced the result turnaround time and once the users got fully acquainted with the features the turnaround time at the identified stages was much better due to the simplified reception of samples at reception using built-in controls, Quick and Exact matching of sample ID’s and a Layer that allows validation of results before importing, unmatched sample.
