DIGI SOCIETY 💻

Digitalization in laboratory diagnostics 

Laboratory diagnostics involves large amounts of data and many different digital solutions and databases. However, there is in my experience so far a difference between different laboratory departments when it comes to digitalization. For example, in clinical chemistry process automation, result screening and quality assurance have been digitalized much quicker than in microbiology and molecular biology so far which require still a lot of manual labor and separate result assessment. With In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR) coming into effect in the coming years, molecular biology departments might see more automation and newer LIS solutions accompanying them (The European Union In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation, 2017). This will bring with it possible reconfigurations of entire laboratory units and the services they are offering if the commercial solutions do not offer the same range of analyses as the company’s in-house methods. Lab technicians will also have to learn to use more digital skills as work with computers will increase compared to before. 

Even outside the physical laboratory, medical diagnostics involves a lot of digital solutions – electronic booking environments, digital doctor’s appointments, online medical result portals etc. Customers and patients are expecting laboratory services to be more accessible compared to 20 years ago when everything was carried out on paper and you had to physically carry your medical folder from one doctor to another. The healthcare workforce also needs solutions to better manage the ever-increasing sample numbers and data. I think in the future the role of a lab technician will change more, requiring more skills related to digital skills, computer know-how, quality assurance and an ability to use databases effortlessly. 

Risks of open digital society 

As more and more patient information is stored digitally, the way in which we handle, process and store the data becomes more critical. Data pseudonymization is a tool used in diagnostics to remove easily identifiable patient information from a sample tube, allowing it to enter the workflow with a specific barcode instead. But this is not a perfect process as often sample tubes have written information on the patient name, ID code and sample retrieval time which in itself can prove to be important information when dealing with preanalytical problems. In final steps of result verification, the databases in use can provide a lab technician with access to more delicate health information than they need to perform their tasks, highlighting the strong need for proper training of personnel and data breach prevention. 

A major ransomware attack on Synnovis (a lab diagnostics provider in the UK) in June 2024 exemplifies how quick different crises can arise (Thomas, 2024). Several hospitals and healthcare facilities were strongly affected, resulting in hundreds of cancelled surgeries and appointments. Usually automated processes had to be done wholly manually in the laboratory, with thousands of samples queueing up. When we rely on a single digital solution without backups, difficult situations may arise, from patient information leaks to the stopping of all work in the lab. 

As laboratory diagnostics deal with overwhelming amounts of sensitive healthcare information, being GDPR compliant and following best practices is crucial. For example, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic it was important for anyone involved in the PCR testing process to know how and where and with whom any information can be shared (Andmekaitse Inspektsioon, 2021). 

In addition, in my experience the effectiveness of digital solutions and GDPR-savyness varies a lot between different healthcare facilities. GP offices can have web-portals where you can report your infection symptoms in high detail yet the nurse might not know how to utilize the program and still call you to ask all those questions again. Or healthcare professionals might not completely realize that when a person officially an adult, their information can not be automatically shared with the parents without the consent of the person. 

ChatGPT as a tool for work (and fun) 

Before this task I had never used ChatGPT before and in general, I had previously only started using DeepL for Finnish grammar help for some courses. I asked the program multiple recurring questions from my working life, for example, whether Ureaplasma testing is necessary for routine STI testing. It gave nicely formulated answers that contained information I knew already so I could evaluate the correctness of it. It didn’t give any exact sources as the answer was composed of many results from websites and journal articles. When asking for sources used for my previous questions, the tool replied as such but also adding links to reputable organizations or guidelines (even if they were a little generic). To test how well it can handle prompts with very little information, I asked it how old the grey seals in Tallinn Zoo are and who is Käthy Rannaste. With the seals it got its answer in the right direction but not completely right (renamed the seals) and ChatGPT couldn’t provide me with an exact link to where it got its information. Regarding me it uncovered an article I was associated with during university and thus assumed I worked as a scientist or in a similar field. 

The quality of the answer depends a lot on the quality of the question. The more specific you are with your commands and prompts, the more specific the answer. The information ChatGPT finds throughout the Internet varies in quality and that can be reflected in the answers as well, especially as it seems to be hard to ask for specific citations for general questions. Lastly, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can find information on an individual. This could be misused so taking care of what information and how you post online is important. ChatGPT could for instance write out all the races I had attended in the past few years 😀 

Self-evaluation 

This assignment showcases how important it is to be careful with data, whether your own or patients’. Improving my digital skills and ability to use new novel tools like AI programs is vital, considering how industries and everyday life are evolving. 

Writing this text also helped me gather my own thoughts on the different aspects of my work and healthcare services in general, most likely proving helpful for other courses and work life. And, of course, I learned the bare basics of using WordPress and creating blog articles! 

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