IVD Industry Connectivity Consortium NFP

Overview

The IVD Industry Connectivity Consortium NFP is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the adoption of unified standards for data exchange between in vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices and healthcare informatics systems in clinical laboratories. This mission aims to reduce the costs and variability associated with data transfer, thereby enhancing healthcare efficiency and improving patient care[1].

Mission

The consortium's primary mission is to promote the development and widespread adoption of a unified connectivity standard. By simplifying data exchange between IVD devices and healthcare systems, the organization seeks to decrease costs and improve healthcare delivery. The main focus lies in specifying and developing the LIVD interoperability standard[1][2].

Standards and Initiatives

• LAW Profile (Laboratory Analytical Workflow): This standard defines the physical connection, message definitions, and workflow definitions between instruments, middleware, and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS). It is designed to standardize the data flow of IVD patient and analytical work order steps, significantly reducing connectivity installation costs and times[2][3].
• LIVD (LOINC for IVD): This initiative provides a standardized format for publishing LOINC codes for IVD test results, enabling automatic mapping of vendor test results to LOINC codes by LIS systems. It supports the use of LOINC, JLAC10, SNOMED CT vocabularies and requires identification of the instrument performing the test, supporting Unique Device Identifiers (UDI)[2][3].

Partnerships

The consortium collaborates with several major healthcare and laboratory organizations, including Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, BioMérieux, and others. It also partners with industry standards bodies like IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise), HL7 (Health Level Seven International), and CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) to ensure the development and adoption of interoperable standards[2][3].

Impact

By promoting standardized connectivity and interoperability, the IVD Industry Connectivity Consortium NFP aims to improve the efficiency of clinical laboratories and contribute positively to the healthcare landscape. The implementation of its standards is expected to enhance data integrity, reduce errors, and improve decision-making based on accurate and timely data[1][3].

Legal Status

The organization is registered as a nonprofit and operates transparently, adhering to U.S. regulatory requirements. It files tax forms as required, ensuring operational transparency[1]. However, the consortium reported zero revenue in 2022 and 2023, with minimal expenses and assets[4].