Electronic clinical laboratory reports as a source for ascertaining and confirming chromosomal anomalies reported to the New York State Congenital Malformations Registry.

CONTEXT

Hospitals and physicians are required to submit case reports with confirmatory diagnosis information to the New York State Congenital Malformations Registry (CMR) on children who are born or reside in New York State and are diagnosed with major birth defects. However, the majority of the cases with chromosomal anomalies indicated in the hospital discharge files are reported to the CMR without confirmatory testing data, which are usually not available at the time of reporting.

OBJECTIVE

To link the cytogenetic test reports, submitted by cytogenetic testing laboratories via Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS), to the CMR cases in order to obtain confirmatory diagnoses and identify unreported cases with chromosomal anomalies.

DESIGN

: Cytogenetic testing data, submitted by the New York State licensed laboratories, that are stored on the ECLRS Sybase server were retrieved and matched to the CMR cases. The laboratory testing results were used to confirm diagnoses of the CMR cases for matched reports and to ascertain new birth defects cases by auditing hospitals and physicians using unmatched reports with abnormal testing results.

RESULTS

By the end of 2010, a total of 927 reports on 747 children were submitted to the CMR by 14 cytogenetic testing laboratories via the New York State Department of Health ECLRS. Among the 747 children reported, 398 children (53%) had abnormal test results and 412 children (55%) were matched to the CMR cases. From these laboratory reports, 151 new cases with chromosomal anomalies were identified, confirmed, and were added to the CMR. The additional cases accounted for about 7.8% of all cases with chromosomal anomalies in the CMR for the reporting years 2008-2010.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytogenetic laboratory reports can serve as an important source for ascertaining and confirming chromosomal anomalies. Acquiring molecular genetics testing data directly from cytogenetic testing laboratories via ECLRS enables CMR staff to confirm diagnoses and improve the accuracy and efficiency of case reporting.