[Gnumed-devel] More lab test result considerations: groupings

[James Busser]

The lab results in BC CA include the HL7 message segment OBR 004  
"Universal Service ID" of the form "Test code^Test name" for example  
"LYTE^Electrolytes".

The thing to note is that a *single test code* can represent  
*multiple results* that will be received.

IOW this OBR can be followed, in the same message, by multiple OBX  
records for example

OBX|1|NM|2951-2^Sodium||140|mmol/L|135 - 145|N|||F|||20001101105900
OBX|2|NM|2823-3^Potassium||5.0|mmol/L|3.5 - 5.0|H|||F|||20001101105900

I expect the test code would be useful for grouping the display of  
results within GNUmed, think also "Liver ennzymes" or else  
"Hematology Panel" which would include  Hemoglobin, White Blood cell  
count, platelets and there are also related tests like the white  
blood cell differential and peripheral blood film ("smear") which  
could be usefully grouped together under the broader classifier which  
is carried in the OBR 024 "Diagnostic Service Section" (Laboratory  
Section Codes) for example "HAEM", "CHEM", "MICRO".

I gather there is already a recognition of this but maybe just not  
yet provision in the schema, because under the schema specification  
for the table clin.test_type_unified there is a disclaimer

	this is not intended to be used for aggregating semantically  
different test types into "profiles"

So we are probably talking here about these same profiles.

Even though I understand it will take some time for the display  
widgets to catch up with the potential display options, I am  
reluctant to "lose" data that will be extra work (if not impossible)  
to later repopulate.

Maybe this means we need, in clin.test_type

        fk_lab_section
        fk_test_profile