Laboratory information system (“LIS”) is a type of software that receives, processes, and stores information generated in a medical lab. These systems often must interface with instruments and other information systems such as hospital information systems (HIS).Most modern lab automation system and lab equipment that are based on ASTM standards can be interfaced or made to communicate to HIS and electronic medical record (EMR) more easily.
A LIS is a highly configurable application that is customized to facilitate a wide variety of laboratory workflow models. Deciding on an LIS vendor is a major undertaking for all labs.
There are as many variations of LIS’s as there are types of labs. Most Vendors offer LIS as a module or a sub system in their integrated HIS, Some others offer a full service department solution capable of handling a large hospital lab’s needs.Disciplines of laboratory science supported by LIS’ include hematology, Biochemistry, immunology, , surgical pathology, anatomical pathology, flow cytometry,microbiology and blood bank (Donor and Transfusion Management) .
Basic features
Laboratory Information Systems commonly support the following features:
Order Entry and patient check-inTypically an order placed in the EMR or from a physician portal reflects the LIS.A lab order containsa list of tests to be performed on one or more patient specimens, for example blood or urine. Lets take a hypothetical case where a CBC is ordered which is a panel of sub tests including white blood cell count, red cell blood count and other blood-related tests.
A phlebotomist collectS the specimen(s) from the patient. Often, different specimens will be collected, so as to provide different tubes, with a specific cap color, for each analyzer that will process the samples. In this case, the blood sample (using vacutainer tube with lavender top) is taken from the patient, labeled with a bar code specimen label produced by the LIS. The LIS will print barcoded labels (with the unique lab ID No) for the draw tubes.This provides the ability to track, at the specimen level from the point it is taken from the patient to the point that it gets discarded.
Specimen Processing -After the specimen is collected, it is sent/brought to the lab for processing typically in a batch. This event should be recorded in the LIS. Upon reception in the testing lab, either manual or automated lab work can begin.When the barcoded specimen is read by the autonalyser, the unique ID is read off the specimen label and matched with the order previously downloaded to the instrument.
Result(s) Entry -When results of lab tests are available, they are entered into the system manually or automatically downloaded from the auto analyser. Once these results are double checked by the Medical Laboratory Incharge or autoverified, they are released as lab reports.
Reporting
Lab Reports are the final output of all LIS systems and in an integrated system lab reports are delivered to the physician or clinic through HIS and EMR.
This article is written by Naseem Begum-PhD -Healthcare Technology for BiomedME.