July 22 LOCS (CDC) Email

Subject: Lab Advisory: Update on Laboratory Reporting Guidance for SARS-CoV-2
Audience: Clinical Laboratory Professionals
Level: Laboratory Advisory

CDC has recently updated its laboratory reporting web page with new content:

• “Ask on order entry” (AOE) questions for traditional electronic health records or laboratory information management systems
• These AOE questions are necessary for collecting data for COVID-19 cases. Healthcare providers should ask these questions or answer them on behalf of individuals who are being tested for COVID-19.
• New frequently asked questions that address reporting results from clinical trials and evaluations

CDC’s update follows recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) related to laboratory test result reporting as specified in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This guidance covers entities required to report, methods for submission, and requirements for data elements, reporting, and transmission. The guidance also specifies which demographic data clinicians should collect from patients and include in electronic health records.