Synthetic Data for Testing
We used the open-source Synthea software to generate synthetic data for testing. We modified three core disease modules from Synthea's library (Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, and Colorectal Cancer) to meet our testing use case. We also connected them with an updated version of the disease module for COVID-19 to incorporate the experience of the pandemic into these oncology modules.
In the table below we show how the Laboratory Test Types included in this IG were incorporated into the Synthea disease modules. The table also provides a link to an example FHIR Observation resource for each test type that we included in the pilot.
Laboratory Test Types Included in Synthetic Disease Modules
| Laboratory Test Type ValueSets | Synthetic Disease Module | Synthetic Disease Submodule | Comments | Example FHIR Observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-hydroxyindoleacetate (5HIAA) | Lung Cancer (+ COVID-19) | 5-HIAA testing is indicated in Carcinoid Tumors (e.g. GI tract, lung). The base Lung Cancer module from Synthea was modified to include a pathway for neuroendocrine neoplasms and 5-HIAA testing. | Example | |
| Alpha-1-Fetoprotein | AFP testing is indicated in certain liver, testicular, and ovarian cancers, for which Synthea does not have modules. | |||
| Beta-2-Microglobulin | Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example | ||
| Cancer Ag 125 | CA-125 testing is indicated in ovarian cancers, for which Synthea does not have a module. | |||
| Cancer Ag 15-3 | Breast Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example | ||
| Cancer Ag 19-9 | Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example | ||
| Cancer Ag 27-29 | Breast Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example | ||
| Carcinoembryonic Ag | Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example | ||
| Estrogen receptor | Breast Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Hormone Diagnosis (BC) | Example | |
| HER2 | Breast Cancer (+ COVID-19); Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Hormone Diagnosis (BC) | Example | |
| Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) | Breast Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Hormone Diagnosis (BC) | For triple negative patients only | Example |
| Progesterone receptor | Breast Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Hormone Diagnosis (BC) | Example | |
| Prostate specific Ag | COVID-19 | Frequent Measurements (COVID-19) | For males only | Example |
| Complete Blood Count | Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19), Lung Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example: RBC | ||
| Comprehensive Metabolic Panel | Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19), Lung Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Example: Glucose | ||
| Glomerular Filtration Rate | COVID-19 | Daily Measurements (COVID-19) | Example | |
| Gleason Score | Component of a prostate biopsy report. Not implemented in the synthetic data set because Synthea does not have a module for it. | |||
| Mean Platelet Volume | Colorectal Cancer (+ COVID-19) | Part of the CBC Panel | Example | |
| Creatinine Clearance | COVID-19 | Daily Measurements (COVID-19) | Part of Creatinine Clearance Panel | Example |
| Prothrombin Time | COVID-19 | Frequent Measurements (COVID-19) | Example | |
| Lactate Dehydrogenase | COVID-19 | Frequent Measurements (COVID-19) | Example | |
| Magnesium | COVID-19 | Frequent Measurements (COVID-19) | Example | |
| Vitamin B12 | COVID-19 | Frequent Measurements (COVID-19) | Example | |
| O2 Saturation | COVID-19 | Daily Measurements (COVID-19) | This is recorded as a "vital-sign", not a laboratory result | Example |
| SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) | COVID-19 | Example |