Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant interference in cellulose-based IgE allergy tests utilizing recombinant allergen components.

BACKGROUND: Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant (CCD) structures found in plant and insect glycoproteins are commonly recognized by IgE antibodies as epitopes that can lead to extensive cross-reactivity and obscure in vitro diagnostic (IVD) serology results. With the introduction of component resolved diagnosis (CRD), recombinant non-glycosylated components have been utilized to mitigate the risk of CCD-specific IgE (sIgE) detection. However, a recent study has shown that CCD-sIgE may bind directly to the cellulose solid phase matrix used in certain in vitro diagnostic assays, eliminating the advantage of CRD over traditional extract-based testing. The aim of this study is to further investigate the prevalence of CCD-sIgE interference on a commonly-used in vitro sIgE automated platform which employs a cellulose-based matrix to immobilize CCD-free recombinant components. METHODS: Sera from patients sensitized to peanut, silver birch, and/or timothy grass were analyzed for CCD-sIgE reactivity on ImmunoCAP/Phadia and NOVEOS autoanalyzers against the MUXF3 carbohydrate component. Positive CCD-sIgE sera were further analyzed against non-glycosylated recombinant components bound to the ImmunoCAP solid phase in the absence and presence of a soluble CCD inhibitor. For comparison, sera were then analyzed on NOVEOS, a non-cellulose based automated sIgE assay. RESULTS: Sera from 35% of the sensitized population tested in this study were positive (≥0.35 kU/L) for CCD-sIgE. Of those positives, 17% resulted in CCD-sIgE-positive (false positive) results on ImmunoCAP using non-glycosylated allergosorbents that were negative on NOVEOS. Sera producing false-positive results on ImmunoCAP had varying levels of CCD-sIgE from 0.67 kU/L to 36.52 kU/L. The incidence of CCD interference was predominantly delimited to low-positive IgE results (0.35 kUA/L- 3.00 kUA/L). CONCLUSION: Falsely elevated diagnostic allergen-sIgE results can commonly occur due to the presence of CCD-sIgE using assays that employ a carbohydrate matrix-based allergosorbent. Even the use of non-glycosylated recombinant allergenic components coupled to cellulose matrices do not reduce their risk of detection. The risk of CCD interference that compromises quantitative IgE results can be mitigated by the addition of a soluble CCD inhibitor to positive CCD-sIgE containing sera or by alternatively using a non-cellulose based sIgE assay, such as the NOVEOS assay.

Opportunities in interdisciplinary care team adoption of electronic point-of-care documentation systems.

We conducted three evaluation studies in community and hospital settings to examine point-of-care documentation system adoption among interdisciplinary care team clinicians. In the community settings, quantitative methods included documentation time-to-completion and a clinician satisfaction survey. Qualitative methods included observations and follow-up interviews. Qualitative data and quantitative data were merged comparing findings along themes. In the hospitals, qualitative scenario testing results indicated clinician system adoption was universal, though not always timely. At all sites, mismatch between system functionality and workflow was a barrier to clinician system access during patient care and reduced clinician efficiency. Clinicians at all settings were satisfied with their ability to access other clinicians' notes, without increased interdisciplinary team communication. Clinicians did not identify any systems impact on patient outcomes. To facilitate adoption, clinicians should see the value of using the system as intended by receiving system data feedback that shows improvement of patient care and patient safety.

Challenges and facilitators to adoption of a point-of-care electronic health record in home care.

Electronic health records (EHRs), intended to improve the clinical process, are understudied in home care. The researchers assessed clinician satisfaction, informed by workflow and patient outcomes, to identify EHR adoption challenges. The mixed methods study setting was a Philadelphia agency with 137 clinicians. Adoption challenges included: (a) hardware problems coupled with lack of field support; (b) inadequate training; and (c) mismatch of EHR usability/functionality and workflow resulting in decreased efficiency. Adoption facilitators were support for team communication and improved clinical data timeliness. Opportunities for improved adoption included sharing with front-line clinicians EHR data related to patient care and health outcomes.

Interdisciplinary care team adoption of electronic point-of-care documentation systems: an unrealized opportunity.

We conducted three health care evaluation studies in community and hospital settings to examine adoption of point-of-care documentation systems among interdisciplinary care team clinicians. Both community studies used a mixed methods design to assess actual system usage and clinician satisfaction. In the hospitals, scenario testing was used. Results indicated clinician adoption of the systems was universal, although not always timely with: (1) a mismatch between system functionality and workflow which was a barrier to clinician system access during patient care and reduced clinician efficiency; (2) no increase in interdisciplinary team communication; and (3) no impact on patient outcomes identified by clinicians. To facilitate adoption, clinicians should see the value of using the system as intended by receiving patient care and patient safety feedback that uses system data.

Evaluating the impact of electronic health records on nurse clinical process at two community health sites.

We conducted two mixed methods studies in community-based health care settings to examine EHR use among nurses documenting direct patient care and EHR impact on nurse satisfaction. Quantitative methods included documentation time-to-completion data and a clinician satisfaction survey. Qualitative methods included observations and follow-up interviews. Qualitative data was merged with the quantitative data by comparing findings along themes. Results indicated nurses increased the number and timeliness of notes documented. Nurse use of the EHR as intended varied between the research sites. Barriers to EHR use included cumbersome functionalities that impacted nurse efficiency, lack of interoperability, and hardware issues. Facilitators to adoption included functionalities that provided memory prompts during the care process and enabled nurses to communicate about patient care. Interpretation of findings underscores the importance of the interaction of workflow, EHR functionality, and usability to impact nurse satisfaction, efficiency, and use of the EHR.