Elimination of clinical biochemistry laboratory teststhrough artificial intelligence programs to increasecost-effectiveness

Abstract

Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of software programs such as ALIN IQ, to prevent the regular practice of unnecessary testing in the preanalytical phase, which could save millions of dollars.Methods This study was conducted using data obtained from certain tests using the ALIN IQ software developed by Abbott Core Laboratory. The software implements algorithms defined by the information management system of the hospital to manage laboratory test ordering by clinicians. In the study, three tests—AST, direct bilirubin, and free PSA—were blocked by the software. Instead, the
software suggested ALT, total bilirubin, and total PSA tests as preferences when ordered along with other tests sent to the c16000 biochemistry analyzer.Results In this study, data on numbers of tests (ALT, AST, PSA) run over a one-month period were acquired from ALIN IQ software in a laboratory that runs 2,444,024 tests per year. Findings showed that 11,137 AST, 6,856 direct bilirubin, and 1,340 free PSA tests were ordered unnecessarily over the course of the month, and that avoiding these three tests (AST, direct bilirubin, and free PSA) provided savings of 77.96% from AST, 77.22% from direct bilirubin, and 72.45% from free PSA, corresponding to a projected 231,996 unnecessary tests per year.Conclusion Given the rise of global healthcare costs, reducing laboratory expenditures costing billions of dollars has been discussed in many articles, and different suggestions have been put forward. The present study showed that in addition to the measures set in place in the preanalytical phase, the costs of medical tests could also be reduced through the use of intelligent software programs in the analytical phase.

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