Technology & Digital Tools Flashcards
7 cards from real CLC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Technology & Digital Tools flashcards as text
Which feature of a Laboratory Information System (LIS) ensures that a test result cannot be released without a supervisory review when a critical value is flagged?
Answer: Autoverification hold
An autoverification hold suspends result release and routes critical flags to a supervisor or pathologist before sign-out.
A laboratory is implementing bidirectional interfaces between analyzers and the LIS. What is the primary benefit over a unidirectional interface?
Answer: Automatic download of worklists to the analyzer and upload of results to the LIS
Bidirectional interfaces allow both worklist/order downloads to the instrument and automatic result uploads back to the LIS, reducing manual entry errors.
In laboratory informatics, what does the acronym ASTM E1381 standard govern?
Answer: Low-level protocol for serial communication between analyzers and computers
ASTM E1381 defines the low-level protocol (physical/data-link layer) for serial communication between clinical instruments and computer systems.
A consultant recommends middleware software between analyzers and the LIS. What primary function does middleware serve in this architecture?
Answer: Aggregating, processing, and routing data from multiple instruments before it reaches the LIS
Middleware acts as an intelligent data broker that can apply rules, aggregate multi-instrument data, and route results to the LIS or other systems.
Which cybersecurity framework is most commonly recommended for clinical laboratory IT risk assessments in US healthcare settings?
Answer: NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is widely adopted in US healthcare and aligns with HIPAA Security Rule requirements for risk management.
A laboratory consultant is evaluating a cloud-based LIMS. Which data protection requirement is MOST critical to verify before contract signing?
Answer: Business Associate Agreement (BAA) execution and HIPAA-compliant data handling
A signed BAA is legally required under HIPAA when a cloud vendor handles protected health information on behalf of a covered entity.
Delta checks in a LIS compare a patient's current result to a previous result. What is the primary purpose of this function?
Answer: Detecting specimen identification or transcription errors by flagging physiologically implausible changes
Delta checks identify results that differ from a patient's prior value beyond a physiologically possible range, helping catch mislabeling or wrong-patient errors.