8.2.1 Data Exchange Challenges

The extended workflow—from sample collection and handling, to lab analysis and interpretation, to communicating results to end users—is a complex, data-intensive process with ample opportunity for errors, both in the actual workflow process (see a list of these challenges in Section 8.2.2 Process Challenges ) as well as the data exchange required as part of that process. The challenges associated with data exchange include:

• Chain of custody/time lags
• Multiple labs/multiple clients
• Incomplete, misinterpreted, or misunderstood information
• Sample results, while accurate, may need adjustments for use
• Multiple available data stores, vocabularies, and formats

• Multiple consumers of the data

These PRODML PVT data objects have been designed to address these challenges and improve the accuracy and completeness of the information transferred in these workflows.