The Evolution of the WHO/NREVSS Influenza Surveillance System: The Challenges and Opportunities that Accompany Electronic Laboratory Data

Mustaquim, Desiree

At its starting point in 2008, adoption of PHLIP was cumbersome; the message specification was difficult to implement. To overcome this, APHL initiated a PHLIP Assistance Team (PAT) service. Since implementing the PAT, nearly 80% of reporters are coding at least one of the optional demographic and epidemiologic fields, resulting in data for new analyses, such as looking at factors affecting severity of outcome. Also, PHLIP data has been used for verification of influenza testing in order to monitor for appropriate usage of reagents provided by the ID. Five laboratories are being piloted for the use of their PHLIP influenza ELSM data in the NREVSS surveillance system to see if the message captures their other respiratory virus data. This would eliminate manual reporting for these sites through the NREVSS system at no additional expense or effort from reporters.