Reporting of Results
The Information Technology Department at Alere is comprised of experienced professionals with expertise in software development, statistical analysis, database management, and electronic data transmission. Currently, Alere offers several result reporting systems that allow access to up-to-the-minute drug screen activity. Through these enhanced electronic reporting options, Alere has the flexibility to deliver results to clients in a variety of formats and to multiple locations simultaneously. Using any of the options below, a single result can be forwarded to one or many locations, one or more individuals at a single location, an MRO, or an authorized representative at the facility’s main office. A single drug test result report can be transmitted to multiple locations via multiple reporting methods.
AlereDataLink – Web-based Reporting
Alere’s reporting and information website, www.aleredatalink.com, links your authorized individuals with their drug screen data and enables more efficient and effective management of a substance abuse testing program.
Current features of AlereDataLink are:
- viewing news about Alere and new features of AlereDataLink
- searching for drug screens received at Alere
- viewing and printing drug screen result reports
- viewing and printing scanned images of initial and certified chain of custody forms
- listing facilities linked to a particular account
- downloading results in an ASCII file or XML file format by date range
- printing a set of results by date range
- generating statistical reports
- ordering supplies
- generating random lists for random drug test programs
- searching for and viewing information on collection sites in Alere’s database, including the site’s address and a link to a map to the location
Through a secure website available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, AlereDataLink allows your authorized individuals to retrieve new results, view old results, and identify those specimens in progress. The system allows access to and sorting of drug screens by date, donor name, social security number, specimen ID number, and facility. Users may then print drug test result reports and chain of custody forms and list tests that have been received as well as those that are pending.
In addition to its viewing and printing capabilities, AlereDataLink allows users to perform file transfers that may easily be incorporated into a database to help manage and integrate drug screen records with existing information files. The user can download the results in a comma-delimited format that can be manipulated later on the user’s end, saving the time used to re-enter results.
AlereDataLink also has an email notification option that clients can use to receive a message when test results are completed. We are unable to email the actual test results for security reasons; however, we can notify clients when test results are completed and updated on the website. Once an hour, the system will compile an email message of those results available through AlereDataLink. This email message will then be sent to an email address with a list of the results available, including the donor name, social security number, and specimen identification number. Then, the user can go to the website, log in, and retrieve his/her results. For convenience, the system does not repeat the message; the message for a result or group of results is sent a single time when the results are completed.
AlereAutoLink – Automated Reporting
Alere’s website also has an automated component that enables users to retrieve their drug screen data without ever manually logging into AlereDataLink. Through a full-time connection to the Internet, this program, called AlereAutoLink, enables users to perform the same print and export functions available through the website without requiring entry of search criteria or commands. Once installed on the user’s computer, the program automatically prints or downloads drug test results at predetermined intervals throughout the day.
AlereAutoPrint – Users of AlereAutoPrint can print drug test results in one of two formats – list or report. The list format provides a record of the drug tests that have been completed and includes limited information on each result. The report format provides a detailed and easily comprehensible report on each test result. A full-page report includes all the necessary information regarding the donor, client, collector, and test panel and the signature of the Certifying Officer, making it a certified copy of the test result. Once the user has selected a format and interval for printing, AlereAutoPrint will search Alere’s website for completed results and print them in the format selected. When AlereAutoPrint has printed a result, it will mark the result, and at the next printing interval, that result will not be printed, eliminating duplicate reports.
AlereAutoExport – Those clients that require our results to be imported into a database or software system can utilize AlereAutoExport to set intervals throughout the day to export results from Alere. These results come in a comma-delimited, ASCII file or XML file that is stored on the user’s computer until he/she is ready to import them. After a user sets an interval for exporting, AlereAutoExport will search Alere’s website for completed results, compile them into a single file, and save them to the client’s computer. As with printing, duplicate records are eliminated by marking previously exported results and not exporting them again.
Computerized Fax Reporting
Those clients who do not have Internet access can receive completed test results via computer fax to a dedicated fax machine in a secured area with limited access. Within one hour of completion, Alere’s computer fax system will make its first attempt to transmit results to your authorized fax machine. If an attempt to send results fails because of a busy signal on the receiving fax, Alere’s faxing system will make an attempt every five minutes for next 45 minutes. If the fax is not successful by the tenth attempt, it will be held in a faxing queue for 48 hours for a manual resend. The system also is equipped with fax tracking software that notifies our IT Department of undelivered faxes and provides detailed daily and monthly reports on the success/failure rate of each client, the number of pages sent per fax per day, and the number of minutes per page, fax, and day.
Each fax is preceded by a confidential results cover page that identifies the number of pages the fax includes. Clients can receive faxes in the same two formats available on AlereAutoLink – list or report. The list format provides limited information with all results appearing in a list, where the report format is more detailed with one report page being transmitted per drug test result. Those clients who utilize Medical Review Officers to review their test results can elect to get notifications that test results are completed and being sent to their MROs.