Raine Locke P. Patrimonio
MT 14 (LEC) – DD

The laboratory information system is what helps in recording, managing, updating, and storing data for actions done inside laboratories.

Examples are arrangements for tests, laboratory analyses, tracking orders, laboratory results, and overall quality control.

In basic terms, it is a software system with features that help in keeping track of laboratory operations. A laboratory information system assists in storing information on all the patients who visit a medical lab.

A laboratory information system allows the automation of lab workflows, manages samples, and integrates instruments, and associated information.

Medical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of patients who require medical help.

Laboratory information systems have subsystems: Clinical Laboratory Systems, Microbiology, Anatomic Pathology Systems, Billing Systems, and Blood Bank Systems.

The system is capable of receiving the specimens from the floor, recognizing and entering the specimen through barcodes, archiving, and transporting them to analyzers for testing.

Traditionally, data input in laboratory information systems has been divided into two categories: test ordering and result entry.

Test orders will then be entered into the system via automated physician order entry or directly by the specimen processing service department.

Medical technologists do manual testing or use an automated analyzer to obtain test findings.

Moving on to how a LIMS works, it labels the sample that got extracted from the patient moments prior with a unique code.

The LIMS then records important information about the sample, such as when the sample got extracted, where the sample came from, and who the sample came from.

After the LIMS finishes recording the information of the sample it will then organize the information it receives, as it starts to keep track of the different tests that will have to run on the sample.

Then the lab personnel will run necessary tests needed on the sample as they input the test results on the LIMS, which then the LIMS stores and organizes the data from the test results.

After organizing and storing the test results, it then does a quality check to ensure that the results from the test performed well and if the test results are in acceptable ranges. If ever something is wrong it informs the lab personnel.

When all the tests are finished, the laboratory information management system generates reports. These reports show what tests finished, the results of those tests, and any important information about the sample that was being tested on.

Doctors or researchers can use these reports to take valid actions depending on what comes out of the test.

The laboratory information management system secures all this information and only allows authorized personnel access to it. It also keeps a record of whoever accesses the archives, making a list of access history.

The laboratory information management system can work with other systems, like electronic health records and the like. This helps everything run and allows the laboratory information management system to be a part of a bigger automated medical system.

To put it simply, the LIMS or the laboratory information management gathers the data analyzes them, and organizes the data gathered into usable information that gives the lab personnel an easier time.