A survey on Artificial Intelligence and Big Data utilisation in Italian clinical laboratories

The Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC) Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (BAI) Working Group promoted a survey to frame the knowledge, skills and technological predisposition in clinical laboratories.

A questionnaire, focussing on digitization, information technology (IT) infrastructures, data accessibility, and BAI projects underway was sent to 1,351 SIBioC participants. The responses were evaluated using SurveyMonkey software and Google Sheets.

The 227 respondents (17%) from all over Italy (47% of 484 labs), mainly biologists, laboratory physicians and managers, mostly from laboratories of public hospitals, revealed lack of hardware, software and corporate Wi-Fi, and dearth of PCs. Only 25% work daily on clouds, while 65%-including Laboratory Directors-cannot acquire health data from sources other than laboratories. Only 50% of those with access can review a clinical patient's health record, while the other access only to laboratory information. The integration of laboratory data with other health data is mostly incomplete, which limits BAI-type analysis. Many are unaware of integration platforms. Over 90% report pulling data from the Laboratory Information System, with varying degrees of autonomy. Very few have already undertaken BAI projects, frequently relying on IT partnerships. The majority consider BAI as crucial in helping professional judgements, indicating a growing interest.

The questionnaire received relevant feedback from SIBioC participants. It highlighted the level of expertise and interest in BAI applications. None of the obstacles stands out more than the others, emphasising the need to all-around work: IT infrastructures, data warehouses, BAI analysis software acquisition, data accessibility and training.