Recommendations for reporting and flagging of reference limits on pathology reports.

Abstract

Surveys by the RCPA PITUS Project have shown significant variations in report rendering between Australasian Pathology Providers. The same project collected anecdotal evidence that this variation has led to the misunderstanding and misreading of results - a clinical safety issue. Recommendations are given for the rendering of reference limits on pathology reports, determination and rendering of result flags, and the documentation of sub-population partitions for reference intervals. These recommendations apply equally for paper or electronic reporting, but should not limit the use of novel techniques within electronic reports to convey additional meaning. PITUS Working Group 4 will publish draft recommendations for peer review and comment in relation to the above in the second half of 2014.