Today, pathology labs play an important role in the healthcare industry. With the growing number of new viruses and diseases it is the pathology reports which give the data for accurate diagnosis to the doctors.
With the population increasing and with sophisticated equipment required by the pathology labs, it is economically not viable to have the labs equipped with all the high tech equipment. Hence, there is a trend in localising the high-tech equipment at a centralised facility and having collection centres at around different places to feed these labs. The labs give back the results to the collection centre for the ease of the patients. So, the total time for the test is reduced, assuring better service through the sophisticated equipment to the patients. Hence, there is a need for a lab management system to fulfill these requirements.
Current scenario
In a traditional system, the paper reports had to be carried physically to the collection centre or the patient had to come to the lab and collect his reports. But with technology coming into place these things can be managed online and it’s the main reason for introducing the Lab Management system.
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
| Working of LIMS |
A lab information management system takes care of a whole lot of processes from sample management to delivering reports, including the accounts. It handles:
- Patient management
- Sample management
- Reporting
- Accounts and billing.
Seamless integration
The patient comes to collection centre. First he gets registered with the LIMS, then he pays for the test to be conducted. After the payment he will get the receipt from LIMS. Then he gives the sample where all the sample details along with the test to be performed can be entered. When the sample details are initially entered into the system, the LIMS can print a barcode label with a unique Patient ID and sample number. Therefore it is easy to track the sample.
The samples from the collection centres will be sent to the centralised laboratory for testing. Once the tests result are ready, they are directly transferred to the LIMS through the machine. The LIMS also shows the abnormal markings if the test result is not in the normal range.
The setable formulas for pathology, ready templates for radiology findings, automatic age / gender wise normal ranges, interpretations, method used for testing, makes the work easier and faster. As soon as the reports are ready and the payment is complete, the report can be mailed directly to patient. Even an SMS can be sent, saying that the “Lab report is ready please collect it” or “Report is mailed to you.”
The LIMS system can even generate a unique patient ID and password which can be generated at the time of registration. This ID and password can act as a login ID and password. This can be printed on patient’s payment receipt. Later the patient can login using the ID and password on the patient portal to view or download his reports.
Also as soon as the reports are ready, a message goes to the patient informing, “Report uploaded on the Patient Portal.”
Dashboard
Every user accessing the LIMS with specific role can view the details related to their role in a single screen called dashboard. For example, lab technician, radiology incharge or account in-charge. They can get a complete overview on a single dashboard. Below is the dashboard of the lab technician.
Benefits of a web-based LIMS
- Information readily available with the click of a button
- Years of data can be kept easily without the need for traditional archiving
- Improved business efficiency
- As the instruments are integrated, data quality is improved (Machine Integration)
- Automated log-in, tracking and management.
- Ready standard templates makes reporting faster. (Radiology Test Findings Templates)
- Automated integration of hand-held LIMS devices. (Barcode Scanners)
- Abnormal result alarm or markings. (H- High and L- Low)
- Daily and monthly reports are readily available.
- Easily accessible data via the web.(Patient Portal)
- Secured encrypted reports can be sent via email
- Inventory management
Security in LIMS
Security features: The LIMS administrator can configure the LIMS for optimal data integrity. He can define the permission levels, for example updating the sample details, updating test results entered, payment related options, statistical reports, printing e-signature.
Audit log: LIMS provides an extensive audit trail for changes made to any sample. Complete log of, the time, date and user are recorded along with the change details which can be viewed by the administrator.
Equipment calibration and maintenance
Accuracy in test results is a must. To obtain quality results the equipment calibration and maintenance has to be done on regular intervals. So that no errors takes place while getting the results. The LIMS system provides an utility to maintain equipment Calibration and maintenance record, so that reminders/notifications can be generated to perform calibration and preventive maintenance.
Inventory management
This is a challenge for many laboratories for the management, and tracking of laboratory consumables. LIMS will help to keep track of reagents consumed for each test. The user can define the reagents required for each test. It can also track expiry of consumables. LIMS can also provide advanced notification of the expiry. Every single inventory details are maintained in LIMS.
Conclusion
LIMS can be used in collecting information, to aid decision making and to influence reviews and future developments it can also help in data management and analysis. With the advent of new technologies, labs with multiple collection centres (at different locations) need to maintain data integrity along with quality.
So there is a need of good web-based LIMS which will cater to all the requirements of the diagnostic centres.