Len Bernadine I. Lumogdang October 4, 2023
BSMT – 1 MT14 LEC- CC
ACTIVITY

1. What is the function of the laboratory information system?

– A Laboratory Information System (LIS) is a computer software that manages medical data for various processes and tests, including hematology, chemistry, immunology, and microbiology. It helps coordinate tests for patients and handles test orders, results, and patient information. It also plays a pivotal role in coordinating tests for both inpatients and outpatients, processing test orders, and results, and maintaining patient data such as name, birthdate, gender, address, and medical history. LIS also connects with electronic health records (EHRs), making information transfer efficient. Medical professionals like pathologists and oncologists use LIS to access crucial lab results for precise diagnoses and treatment planning. According to Shrestha and Shrestha (2022), the functions of a laboratory information system can be categorized as follows:

a) Patient Management: This involves determining the department to which a patient is admitted, assigning a physician to the patient, and specifying the type of specimen required from the patient.

b) Tracking Patient Data: The LIS helps in monitoring and maintaining records of patients’ demographic information and laboratory data, including test results. It also facilitates the retrieval of historical patient data.

c) Consistency and accuracy in generating results: By standardizing laboratory protocols and verifying test results, the LIS ensures consistent and accurate results for each patient. It also involves checks and verification of testing accuracy by authorized personnel.

d) Quality Assurance: The LIS not only streamlines laboratory workflows but also upholds testing quality by recording data related to quality testing.

e) Billing: The system facilitates the service charges during patient admission and bill registration, ensuring proper billing.

2. What are the major components of a laboratory information system?

The proper functioning of the LIS requires three different components working in a synchronized form. They are:

a) Sample Tracking: A vital component of LIS is tracking samples. It involves recording key details like ID, patient name, sample type, date/batch number, and volume electronically. This digital record ensures samples reach their analysis destination efficiently.

b) Protocol Implementation: LIS also implements protocols, processes, and procedures to enhance laboratory workflow. LIS offers authorization-based visibility, generates concise results, sends them for approval, and distributes them as needed.

c) Sample Storage Management: The last LIS component focuses on managing sample storage. It groups samples with the same batch/date, facilitating organized storage. This storage hierarchy streamlines sample retrieval in busy labs, ensuring efficient and organized productivity.

3. How does laboratory information management system work?

– A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is crucial for efficiently managing samples and data in modern laboratories. It streamlines operations, integrates instruments, and ensures reliable and timely results. LIMS centralizes and organizes data, reducing errors that can impact critical processes, including life-saving research. LIMS is important for modern laboratories because today’s labs process and analyze an incredible amount of information — without a reliable LIMS system in place, it’s easy for errors to impact the speed and accuracy with which results are delivered. In some cases, this could mean a new product launch gets delayed — in some cases, that could be a life-saving vaccine that is urgently needed. In today’s complex laboratory environment, LIMS is an essential cornerstone for precise organization, accuracy, and efficient collaboration.

References:

DelVecchio, A. (2015). laboratory information system. Health

IT. https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/definition/laboratory-information-system

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) | For genomics labs.

(n.d.). https://www.illumina.com/informatics/infrastructure-pipeline-setup/lims.html

Shrestha, A., & Shrestha, A. (2022). Laboratory Information System (LIS). Microbe Online. https://microbeonline.com/laboratory-information-system-lis/

Systems, P. (2022). What is a Laboratory Information System? Psychē Systems

Corporation. https://psychesystems.com/blog/what-is-a-laboratory-information-system/