As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, demand for tests still remains high. If you are in charge of a COVID-19 testing center, you are responsible for reporting all laboratory testing data to your respective state registry. Each state has its own registry for reporting testing data and requires data to be reported within 24 hours of test completion.
Overseeing this whole process can sound stressful, especially if you are new to it. That’s why we’re offering a full guide to navigating the entire process of sending testing data to different state registries. Read on to review the whole process now!
Importance of Data Collection for COVID-19 Tests
Researchers can identify supply chain issues, analyze testing coverage, and more using comprehensive lab testing data.
According to the CDC, all COVID-19 testing faciilties including laboratories, screening test locations, pharmacies, and in-home diagnostic companies must report both positive and negative results of COVID-19 tests to their appropriate state registries. This data is then sent to the CDC, which analyzes it to better understand the impact of the coronavirus, evaluate the country’s testing coverage, and identify any supply chain issues that testing centers might be suffering from. These testing centers must report test results on a daily basis and within 24 hours of completing them. Whether your center uses molecular or antibody testing, it needs to report its results to the pertinent state departments.
How to Report COVID-19 Testing Data to State Registries
All COVID-19 testing sites must report data to their respective state registries.
Organizations must report COVID-19 test results within 24 hours of their completion. The location where you send these reports will depend on each patient’s respective residence. There are several ways you can report this data:
- Send it directly to your state or local health department
- Submit data through a centralized platform that routes the data to the appropriate location before sending it to the CDC
- Submit test results through a state or regional Health Information Exchange (HIE)
If you are a long-term care facility, you can also report testing data to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). All data submitted to this platform will also be reported to the proper state or local health department.
What Data Do I Need to Report?
When submitting test data to your state registry, you should include information about a patient’s:
- Test result and date
- Age
- Race and ethnicity
- Sex
- Location
You will also need to include information about the type of test used, the ordering provider, and the testing facility. In order to protect patient privacy, this data will be deidentified when it is sent to the CDC.
Pub Hub 2.0 and COVID-19 Test Reporting for State Registries
The Pub Hub 2.0 connects organizations to state registries across the country.
A new provision by the CARES Act requires testing labs that operate under a CLIA certificate to report all COVID-19 tests they have conducted. To help facilitate the flow of information between testing centers and state registries, the Pub Hub 2.0 by Iron Bridge links them together through hundreds of point-to-point connections.
This innovative tech solution also establishes connectivity between:
- Electronic health records
- Pharmacies
- Environmental health and safety information systems
Electronic Lab Reporting Registries That are Integrated with the Pub Hub 2.0
Pub Hub 2.0 is integrated with dozens of immunization registries across the country, including:
- Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
- California Reportable Disease Information Exchange
- Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Delaware Health Information Network
- Hawaii Department of Health, Disease Investigation Branch
- Los Angeles County vCMR Community Reporting Module
Because Pub Hub 2.0 has established connectivity with all U.S.-based electronic lab reporting registries, customers just have to connect once to the Pub Hub in order to report COVID-19 test results to registries around the country.
Final Thoughts
Submitting COVID-19 tests to state registries remains a high priority for testing centers and public health officials. Researchers can use this information to track the spread of COVID-19 and identify areas that are severely impacted by the illness. The Pub Hub 2.0 helps facilitate the flow of this data across different laboratories, EHR’s, pharmacies, and state registries around the country. In just one single connection through the Pub Hub 2.0, an organization can connect to all state electronic lab reporting registries in the United States.
Want to learn more about Iron Bridge’s innovative health IT solutions? Contact one of our team members today to learn more about our products and services!
.png)
.png)
