Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App





Unique Competition Focuses on Using Data Science to Forecast Preanalytical Errors

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Jul 2023

Many institutions grapple with the issue of excess hemolyzed samples and are keen to understand how to address this problem while preserving scarce resources. More...

The AACC session titled "Data Analytics Competition: Forecasting Future Preanalytical Errors" focused on this very issue.

At the session, Mark Zaydman, MD, Ph.D., from Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL, St. Louis, MO, USA) announced the winners of a unique competition focused on utilizing data science to predict preanalytical errors arising from incorrect blood specimen collection. The session highlighted the lessons that medical lab professionals could learn from this competition. Co-hosted by the Section of Pathology Informatics of Washington University in St. Louis and the ADLM Data Analytics Steering Committee, the competition used a machine-learning and data-science platform called Kaggle to crowdsource solutions for problems across disciplines.

The competition for this year, titled "Help with Hemolysis," provided a real-world, anonymized dataset reflecting hemolysis within the clinical lab. Contestants had to use this dataset to determine which blood-specimen collectors could gain the most from training in phlebotomy best practices. The idea was to discover ways to reduce in vitro hemolysis while effectively using laboratory time and resources. The winning solution could guide institutions on how to better allocate their training resources. While educational interventions can help reduce hemolysis, they can be expensive and temporary, especially with a high staff turnover. A total of 18 participating teams had slightly over a month to work with the provided dataset before submitting their solution and also had to submit their code to demonstrate their problem-solving approach.

After providing an overview of the competition and summarizing the strategies adopted by the teams, Zaydman announced the winning team—Team Hemolyers. The winning team then shared their solution, offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about them, their approach to the problem, and ask any questions. The session's innovative teaching style differed from the conventional lecture format, aiming to cater to individuals of varying levels of experience. The format of the competition, which is into its second year, provided a novel way to learn, foster a collaborative community, and discover powerful solutions for real-world problems. Zaydman who had hosted the first competition as well pointed out that interdisciplinary teams—combining clinical lab expertise and computer-science knowledge—had been the winners both the times. This was mainly attributed to the increasing accessibility of data science tools and computational resources to individuals without advanced data science degrees. Such interdisciplinary teams can identify gaps in patient care and collaborate to develop innovative and viable solutions.

Despite the particular difficulty of the task for this year's competition, Zaydman stressed that the results were remarkable. “A valuable model doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as it saves costs and improves patient care,” he said.

Related Links:
WUSTL


Gold Member
Quality Control Material
iPLEX Pro Exome QC Panel
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
Urine Chemistry Control
Dropper Urine Chemistry Control
ESR Analyzer
TEST1 2.0
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New evidence shows viscoelastic testing can improve assessment of blood clotting during postpartum hemorrhage (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The SWITCH hybrid pipette is designed to simplify and accelerate pipetting tasks (Photo courtesy of INTEGRA)

Hybrid Pipette Combines Manual Control with Fast Electronic Aliquoting

Manual pipettes offer the control needed for delicate tasks such as mixing or supernatant removal, but typically fall short in repetitive workflows like aliquoting. Electronic pipettes solve this problem... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The partnership between OGT and QIAGEN unlocks a complete sample to report workflow for SureSeq NGS panels (Photo courtesy of OGT)

Qiagen and Oxford Gene Technology Partner on Sequencing Panel Interpretation

In clinical research, next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels provide essential insights for genetic analysis, but many laboratories face challenges in transforming raw sequencing data into clinically... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.