AANEM Laboratory Accreditation Resource

Report Checklist

 
If you are considering applying for accreditation, review the AANEM's educational paper, Reporting the Results of Nerve Conduction Studies and Needle EMG.  The report identifies key elements of a quality EDX report.  Below is a checklist to help you verify your reports have all the key elements.
 
Key Report Elements for NCSs and Needle EMG

• Patient demographic data – required: name, medical record number, age/birthdate; optional: height, weight,
• Reasons for the referral
• Description of history and physical examination
• Reference values
  •   If not provided, abnormal results must be clearly identified
• Limb temperature – hands should be > 32°C and feet > 30°C
• Identify the name of the muscles and nerves tested and the side (left or right)

• Description of the findings in the muscles or nerves examined including normal or abnormal - if abnormal provide details of the abnormality.
  •  For Needle EMG include:
    • Insertional and abnormal spontaneous activity – note the presence or absence of positive waves, fibrillation potentials, fasciculation potentials, or other features
    • Voluntary activity – note the recruitment pattern, motor unit amplitude, duration, and polyphasicity
  •  For NCS include:
    • Site of stimulation
    • recording site
    • Distance
    • Conduction velocity
    • SNAP amplitude and peak or onset latency
    • CMAP amplitude (baseline to negative peak) and onset latency

• Probable diagnosis
  • Note the location of the nerve, neuromuscular junction, or muscle pathology

• Report NCS and EMG data in a table format
• Limitations to completing the study (if any)
• Report on change from previous study (if any)
• Comments (i.e., activation, unusual findings)

 
Key Report Elements for F-Waves, H-Reflexes, and Repetitive Nerve Stimulation

• Indicate the nerve studied
• Site of nerve stimulation and muscle recording
• Minimum F-wave or H-wave latency
• Number of stimulations and the rate of stimulation for repetitive stimulation
• Physiological state of the muscles at the time of nerve stimulation
• If after exercise, the duration of the exercise and time interval after exercise
• Initial amplitude and/or area, and the method of calculation of the increment or decrement

 
Other Report Elements

• Name of electrodiagnostic physician (including resident and/or fellow), typed along with the signature at the bottom of the report
• Name of the technologist assisting with the NCSs (if applicable)
• Type of instrument used (optional)
• Information about laboratory accreditation (if applicable)

 
 Report Checklist