Concept and progress of a regional effort to improve blood lead reporting to six Western States by incorporating electronic laboratory reporting.

While electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) has the potential to be both more timely and complete than non-electronic data transmission and direct electronic data transfer can also reduce data input errors, these benefits are often underutilized. A survey of states in HHS Regions IX and X (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington) led to collaborative efforts to maximize ELR benefits on a regional scale. Collaboration outcomes included the ratification of a regional blood lead HL7 message format and the formation of a multi-state committee to address reporting discrepancies by the large regional labs to multiple states in the regions.