ELECTRONIC CUSTODY AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HUMAN ASSAY TEST SAMPLES

• US 20120284042A1
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eScreen (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: eScreen (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lappe, Murray, Rein, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 9,189,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/483 Physical analysis of biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/36 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program for more quickly, accurately, and efficiently identifying, cataloging, and tracking human assay samples and creating documentation with respect to the human assay samples. The computer program and method include the steps of: storing donor information in a donor information database accessible by a computer; storing client information in a client information database accessible by the computer; retrieving client information necessary to determine a type of test to be performed on a specimen; storing collection facility information in a collection facility database accessible by the computer; administering a human analyte test using the computer program to guide a collector of the specimen and identify problematic exceptions; receiving the test result electronically and storing the result in a test result database accessible by the computer; and permitting authorized persons to electronically access the test result via a communications network.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for assisting an entity in tracking the custody and control of a human analyte specimen provided by a donor, wherein the specimen is stored in a container associated with a unique identifier, wherein the program instructs a processor to perform the steps of:

receive information identifying the unique identifier associated with the container;

create a computer-generated Custody and Control Form (CCF) that associates the specimen with the donor by associating the unique identifier with the CCF,

wherein the CCF is electronically available to the client via an application accessible via a communications network;

receive an electronic signature from an electronic signature reader, wherein the electronic signature is provided by a donor by signing the electronic signature reader;

store said electronic signature as part of the CCF; and

enable a third party electronic access to the CCF via said application.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the third party is an employer requesting that a test be performed on the human analyte specimen provided by the donor, and the donor is either an employee or a candidate for employment with the employer.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the program further instructs the processor to receive employer information including information identifying the employer and at least one test requested by the employer to be performed on the specimen, wherein said employer information is entered by the employer.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the program further instructs the processor to enable a collector associated with a collection facility to access the computer program and perform a look up of the donor based on information identifying the donor.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the information identifying the donor is entered by the employer.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the program further instructs the processor to associate the employer information with the CCF for the specimen upon performing said look up of the donor based on information identifying the donor.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the program further instructs the processor to enable the employer to access the CCF for the specimen associated with the donor, including at least one test result for the specimen, via the application.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the program further instructs the processor to retrieve the CCF upon receipt from the employer of a first or last name or a social security number of the donor.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the unique identifier is received via manual input by a collector.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code, and the information identifying the unique identifier is received via scanning of the bar code with a bar code reader.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the application is a web application, and the communications network is the Internet.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the creating the computer-generated CCF is performed subsequent to receiving information identifying the unique identifier.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the program further instructs the processor to reproduce the electronic signature of the donor on the computer-generated CCF.

14. A system for assisting an entity in tracking the custody and control of a human analyte specimen provided by a donor, wherein the specimen is stored in a container associated with a unique identifier, they system comprising:

a processor for executing a computer program operable to perform the steps of;

receive information identifying the unique identifier associated with the container;

create a computer-generated Custody and Control Form (CCF) that associates the specimen with the donor by associating the unique identifier with the CCF,

wherein the CCF is electronically available to the client via an application accessible via a communications network;

receive an electronic signature from an electronic signature reader, wherein the electronic signature is provided by a donor by signing the electronic signature reader;

store said electronic signature as part of the CCF; and

enable a third party electronic access to the CCF via said application.

15. The system of claim 14,

wherein the third party is an employer requesting that a test be performed on the human analyte specimen provided by the donor, and the donor is either an employee or a candidate for employment with the employer,

wherein the program instructs the processor to perform the following steps:

receive employer information including information identifying the employer and at least one test requested by the employer to be performed on the specimen, wherein said employer information is entered by the employer, and

enable a collector associated with a collection facility to access the computer program and perform a look up of the donor based on information identifying the donor.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein at least a portion of the information identifying the donor is entered by the employer,

wherein the program instructs the processor to perform the following steps:

associate the employer information with the CCF for the specimen upon performing said look up of the donor based on information identifying the donor,

enable the employer to access the CCF for the specimen associated with the donor, including at least one test result for the specimen, via the application,

retrieve the CCF upon receipt from the employer of a first or last name or a social security number of the donor.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the information identifying the unique identifier is received via manual input by a collector.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code, and the information identifying the unique identifier is received via scanning of the bar code with a bar code reader.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the creating the computer-generated CCF is performed subsequent to receiving information identifying the unique identifier.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the program further instructs the processor to reproduce the electronic signature of the donor on the computer-generated CCF.