DIN 58959-3 1997-06 PDF

Full title and description

DIN 58959-3:1997-06 — Quality management in medical microbiology — Part 3: Requirements for request and report forms. (German title: Qualitätsmanagement in der medizinischen Mikrobiologie - Teil 3: Anforderungen an Untersuchungsauftrag und Befundbericht.) This part defines the minimum content and basic structure for laboratory request (examination order) and result report (finding report) forms used in medical-microbiological practice.

Abstract

This standard specifies the required elements, layout considerations and minimum information that must appear on sample/request forms sent to medical microbiology laboratories and on the corresponding laboratory report forms that communicate patient-related test results. It aims to support quality management and clear communication between clinicians and microbiology laboratories.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / superseded (revised by a later edition).
• Publication date: 1 June 1997 (1997-06).
• Publisher: Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN).
• ICS / categories: 07.100.10 — Medical microbiology / Quality assurance in microbiological laboratories.
• Edition / version: 1997-06 edition (Part 3). Later revised by DIN 58959-3:2014.
• Number of pages: Approximately 7 pages (technical leaflet/standard length).

Scope

The scope covers examination request forms submitted to medical-microbiological laboratories and the laboratory finding/report forms produced to communicate patient-related microbiological results. The standard sets out minimum information items (patient identification, sample identification, clinician details, requested tests, clinical information, methods used, results, interpretation, signatures, dates and other administrative elements) and provides guidance intended to improve completeness, traceability and clarity in reporting.

Key topics and requirements

• Mandatory data items for request forms: patient identifiers, specimen type and site, date/time of collection, ordering clinician, clinical information/indication, and requested examinations.
• Mandatory data items for report forms: patient and specimen identifiers, test methods or method references, qualitative/quantitative results with units where applicable, interpretation or comment, reference ranges (if relevant), date of report, and responsible signatory.
• Layout and form-structure recommendations to ensure unambiguous information transfer between clinical services and the laboratory.
• Requirements to support quality management, traceability and record-keeping in medical microbiology laboratories.
• Supplementary examples / blank form templates provided in associated Beiblatt (informative examples of form sheets).

Typical use and users

Primary users are medical-microbiology laboratories, clinical microbiologists, laboratory quality managers, hospital clinical staff who order microbiology tests, and vendors/implementers of laboratory information systems (LIS). Regulatory and accreditation bodies and infection-control teams may use the standard as a reference for minimal reporting requirements.

Related standards

Related documents and references include other parts of the DIN 58959 series and adjacent standards on laboratory quality and microbiology (for example earlier drafts and Part 1/related DIN EN standards cited in later revisions). The 2014 revision of DIN 58959-3 harmonizes with national microbiological quality documents and references DIN handbooks such as DIN Handbook 302 and sector guidance (MiQ 30 referenced in later editions).

Keywords

medical microbiology, quality management, laboratory request form, report form, finding report, examination order, form template, traceability, laboratory information system, request/report requirements.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: DIN 58959-3:1997 is a part of the DIN series on quality management in medical microbiology that specifies minimum content and structure for laboratory request (examination order) and result report (finding report) forms.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers required data elements, basic layout and information-transfer requirements for request and report forms used when ordering and reporting medical microbiology tests, to ensure clarity, patient traceability and quality management.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Clinical microbiology laboratories, laboratory quality managers, clinicians ordering microbiology tests, LIS implementers, and accreditation or hospital quality teams.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 1997 edition has been revised; a later edition (DIN 58959-3, 2014) exists and is the more up‑to‑date version. The 1997 text is therefore considered superseded by the 2014 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 3 of the DIN 58959 series addressing quality management in medical microbiology; other related parts and handbook material address broader quality management and technical aspects of microbiological testing.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Medical microbiology, request form, report form, quality management, finding report, specimen identification, laboratory reporting, traceability.