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)