Written by Franchezka Samia Teves

Reviewed by Reuben J C. Los Baños, Ph.D.

Laboratory Information System (LIS) is a healthcare software solution. The system deals with processing, recording, and storing patient data. It allows providers and laboratory professionals to have quality control and enhanced workflow.

LIS is used in an array of laboratory work that requires data. This includes receiving and tracking test orders and transmitting results to an EHR. An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital record of a patient’s medical details. This records the medical history, physical examination, investigation, and patient treatment.

LIS plays a vital role in modern healthcare. It ensures effective communication between various departments in a medical facility. It is considered as the “backbone” of the healthcare system. Healthcare professionals rely on patient data to administer the right treatments and medicines.

There must be proper documentation of patient data and information to avoid errors. The role of LIS is paramount in this aspect as proof of a patient’s current or past records.

Through the years, record-keeping has evolved from manual/written data to digital data. Now, it is made easy through the use of LIS. Aside from a hassle-free record system, it also prevents the loss of lab records. Unlike manual or written data, the use of LIS enables easy tracking and transmission of data.

The Laboratory Information System will be of great help to doctors. This is where they base their medical evaluations and reviews of the patient. Here are some of the significant purposes of LIS:

• Enhanced Patient Care

Through LIS, healthcare providers have complete access to updated patient information and data. This enables them to provide optimal and personalized care and timely interventions. Enhanced patient care goes beyond traditional medical treatment and provides additional services.

• Easy Workflow

LIS will reduce manual labor within the laboratory since digital record-keeping is integrated. This will increase work efficiency, organize data, and minimize the risk of errors. Through automation of certain tasks, it will speed up the work of lab technicians.

• Effective Communication and Collaboration

Hospitals, laboratories, and different departments within a healthcare facility share data information. The use of LIS will foster good communication and collaboration between colleagues. It also enables good decision-making that will ensure thorough and accurate conclusions. When consulting complex cases, LIS will allow interactions between colleagues to be faster and more productive.

• Adapting to Future Needs

Laboratories have specific needs that depend on the demands of healthcare. LIS allows customization that will be tailored to the needs of the lab. This will ensure that the lab adapts to new technologies, tests, and requirements. LIS can progress together with the evolving healthcare demands.

With this, LIS will not only keep up with the pace of current demands. It will also pave the way for future decisions to be made faster and more accurately, leading to better outcomes.

What are the major components of a laboratory information system? 

A laboratory information system is a convenient way to track samples before collection. You may also use it during and after collection. It not only aids in sample collection and processing but also aids in report generation. Furthermore, it monitors the well-being of the patients in hospitals and clinics. 

There are three major functioning components of LIS:

• Sample tracking

It is the main component of LIS. The samples are the most valuable possession of any clinical laboratory. It usually starts with case identification, where there is a unique ID. It contains the name of the patient and the department where he or she is admitted or confined.

It has the sample type, date-batch number, and volume in the software. A good example is a single sample that is processed in the different parts of the laboratory. To help it reach its analysis destination, all the details are written in an electronic format.

This way, using a sample code makes it easier for the laboratory personnel to know the status of a sample. Then, the sample tracker provides a concise set of results about all the tests performed.

• Protocol Implementation

This is another component of LIS that consists of steps, processes, and procedures. It improves the standard of the laboratory workflow. In a similar manner, the system helps generate standard operating procedures (SOP).

It is very important to consider digitizing all the steps for processing samples. It also yields accurate result interpretation. The SOP helps maintain consistency in sample processing. This is very true even though different laboratory personnel are conducting the tests.

Likewise, LIS helps provide a strict protocol for maintaining quality tests. It gives visibility based on authorization and helps generate concise results. After this, it sends them to the approval queue and then distributes them as per the requirement.

• Storage Management

The last component of the LIS is managing sample storage. Samples with common batch numbers or collection dates are grouped. This is to aid in proper storage for future laboratory tests.

The batch sample is stored in the same vessel, box, or shelf rack. In addition, the system identifies where the rack is located either in a freezer or room. For you to find the samples right away in a busy laboratory, a hierarchy of storage is essential. It helps maintain organized and efficient productivity in the work area.

What is the advantage of using LIMS? 

Lab Information Management System (LIMS) helps manage large amounts of samples and data. Over the years, countless developments have been made in the software. Thus, its capabilities have evolved and can be used in various laboratory management.

In today’s world, LIMS can now be used to generate and track reports and manage inventory. LIMS can also reduce the risk of human errors as it eliminates manual sample tracking.

Here are some of the Advantages of using LIMS:

• Enhanced Efficiency, Data Storage and Entry

Through LIMS, a laboratory can run paperless. Through automation, laboratory work becomes quick and more systematic, minimizing the turnaround times.

In manual lab work, recording samples is quite tasking without barcodes. The sample is manually entered throughout the test analysis. LIMS solves this problem by allowing important information to be digitally entered.

In cases where data is lost through human error, it can easily be retrieved with LIMS. It will also prevent the use of outdated instruments for analytical testing. It ensures the accuracy and quality of test results.

• Improved Inventory Management and Storage Costs

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology used to track items. In lab inventory management, RFID and barcodes are now used as part of LIMS. It automates the tracking of samples, minimizing the tedious manual data entry.

Keeping track of samples and managing plates will be easier, reducing significant delays. Through LIMS, effective lab inventory management is made possible. Tracking the expiration dates of reagents will minimize errors in the lab.

In today’s world, data storage costs are on the rise, along with the current inflation. Implementing the LIMS system in the laboratory will reduce data storage costs in many ways. It can reduce the amount of duplicated data in different locations. It will also compress data to take up less space and remove unnecessary information.

LIMS will also reduce the need for physical storage as it stores data electronically. It does not need to be printed out; therefore, reducing labor costs. If data is lost, LIMS can easily retrieve data and the lab will no longer pay for costly data retrieval services.

What is the difference between LIS and LIMS? 

The Laboratory Information System is a generic term for a wide range of software. It manages every aspect of laboratory operations. For example, regulatory compliance, data management, and document and media tracking.

It is also a good resource for planning and quality assurance. Such systems serve to manage and integrate clinical information. This is to promote the productivity of laboratory operations, thereby improving patient care.

Laboratory Information Management Systems have a more general definition. This means that LIS caters to clinical laboratories only. LIMS is a broader application used in all types of laboratory settings. It includes research and scientific ones.

Scientific laboratories and researchers use this software to track experiments and sample orders. It is also used for data analysis, regulatory compliance, and regional connections. Additional functions include automation of workflows and audit trails. Data mining tools are often incorporated into LIMS to support complex processes.

In short, LIS is intentional only for the clinical laboratory environment. This is for the management of patient data and laboratory operations.

LIMS, on the other hand, addresses a much wider variety of environments. For example, research and scientific laboratories. It provides additional sophisticated capabilities for furthering operational efficiency and research.

How are LIMS used to record and store patient results? 

LIMS has been widely used in laboratories since the evolution of technology. It digitally records and tracks all data associated with lab samples. To do this, LIMS allows the use of barcodes for easy access and entry of data, especially patient results.

LIMS will assign a unique identifier to the sample that will be used for the entire tracking process. Relevant information must be recorded in the system for data accuracy. As the sample goes through various stages of testing, LIMS will track its progress.

LIMS will capture the data directly from the lab instruments during sample testing. This will be automatically logged in the LIMS, reducing manual entries. After this, the LIMS will do the necessary calculations, validations, and storage of data securely.

LIMS makes sure that during the testing process, quality control measures are strictly followed. It ensures that the whole testing process complies with the regulatory standards.

After the sample testing, LIMS will generate a report based on the data collected. Once the data has been processed and results have been reported, LIMS will archive the data for easy retrieval and access.

In conclusion, LIMS is very important in the laboratory to function in an organized manner. Through LIMS, standardization of workflow and procedures will reduce the hassle of laboratory work.

It will also assure the patients that their records are well-managed. Since LIMS allows checking of data errors regularly, there is an additional sense of security.

It is indeed a great way of making laboratory work more effective and efficient. Overall, LIMS allows the laboratory to meet the rising demands of the healthcare industry.

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