A synoptic reporting system for peripheral blood smear interpretation

Web-based synoptic reporting systems have been shown to improve efficiency, reduce turnaround time, and decrease reporting errors in reports of surgical pathology specimens and hematologic neoplasms and bone marrow. No such system has been previously described for the reporting of peripheral blood smears. We developed a Web-based synoptic reporting system composed of a knowledge base encompassing 150 peripheral blood smear report templates covering a wide range of findings. This system was used at our institution, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, by pathology residents under the supervision of an attending pathologist to generate peripheral blood smear reports. This system was found to produce a significant reduction in typographic errors with decreased turnaround time and improved accuracy. This synoptic reporting system can help practicing pathologists and pathology trainees to draft a complete and concise report.