LESSON 10

LABORATORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

 LEARNING GUIDE TIME LEARNING
Lesson 10: Laboratory Information Management System ALLOTMENT RESOURCES

Intended Learning Outcomes 4.0 hours Lesson Content:

10.1. discuss the purpose, functional requirements, features, and core components of Lesson 10
the laboratory information management system;
10.2. describe the laboratory standards in hospitals;
10.3. explain the application of laboratory information system in patient registration,
billing, contract management, and monitoring accounts receivable; and
10.4. discuss worklist, workflow, and quantity control.

Self-Directed Activity 3.0 hours

After completing the hands-on exercise, submit a narrative report on your experience in
using a laboratory information management system.

Baseline Concept Understanding 30 minutes

Learning Outcomes Assessment 30 minutes

LABORATORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LIMS)
A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is designed to
help process information in medical research to improve the efficiency of the
department’s services and laboratory operations by reducing manual tasks
and procedures.
 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND FEATURES OF LIMS

Sample Workflow
Reporting EHR Mobile ERP
Management Management
 CORE COMPONENTS OF LIMS
Source: IEEE GlobalSpec (2015)

Applications to
Electronic laboratory Sample management Process execution Records management interface with
notebooks programs software software analytical instruments
or data systems

Client tracking Best practice and

Workflow tools ERP software
applications compliance databases
LABORATORY STANDARDS
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an “Occupational
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard(29 CFR 1910.1450)” in
2011 to facilitate laboratory safety.
Laboratory is a workplace where hazardous chemicals are used. It is a facility that
stores small quantities of hazardous chemicals which are intended for production use.
Chemical Hygiene Plan discusses all aspects of the laboratory standards should be
formulated if the standards apply.
Figure 10.1 Patient Registration Form
Figure 10.2 Billing
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
The common features of LIMS for invoicing and contract management include:
a) Customer customizable invoices including balance and charges history analysis,
history balance, detailed services, participation when in insurance coverage,
discounts among others;
b) Different electronic formats for invoices allow interfacing to customer electronic
systems;
c) Customizable information completion reports for customers;
d) Managerial reports display laboratory billing status for payer groups including
projected return values for each payer group;
e) Ability to change the Insurance organization of a patient per visit;
f) Ability to select which tests are covered by insurance and which have automatic
modification of the prices accordingly;
g) Supervision of financial data management of the senders;
h) Reminder for amounts due from past visits;
i) Immediate access to the billing card of each patient; and
j) Consistency with the international laws.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Through the integration of LIMS, the personnel of accounts receivable can easily
extract information and do the following:
a) Generate specific or complete accounts receivable reports;
b) Monitor balances for reconciliation and audit purposes;
c) Export data to other accounting systems, and
d) Customize reports according to specifications.
WORKLIST AND WORKFLOW

LIMS assists laboratories in setting priorities of current workloads based on

analyst and instrument availability.
The queuing and worklist feature provides insights about when an event
occurred, how long it was, and who was involved. Worklist and workflow
functions operate to facilitate more efficient laboratory processes.
QUALITY CONTROL

Diagnostic tests executed in the clinical laboratory may yield two kinds of
results, a patient result or a quality control (QC) result.

QC results are used to verify whether or not the instrument is working within
prescribed parameters. Based on the said results, the reliability of a patient’s test
results will be determined (Bio-Rad Laboratories, 2008).
BARCODE-GENERATION, PRINTING AND READING

LIMS modules are commonly linked to

barcoding label generator which enables a fast and
easy method to identify tubes, samples,
documents, and many others. The information can
easily be found and retrieved effortlessly using a
barcode scanner.
IN-BUILT BI-DIRECTIONAL INTERFACES WITH EQUIPMENT

A two-way communication between the information system and the clinical

instrument is required. The LIMS downloads the test orders and specimen ID for
each test. The clinical instrument uploads the same information for analysis.
Figure 10.4 A Bi-directional Interface
Source: Selymer & Cloutier, 1996
 KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
 A laboratory information management system (LIMS) is software designed to
make laboratories more efficient and effective.
 The ultimate aim of a LIMS is to enhance efficiency in laboratory operations
by reducing manual procedures.
 The core components of LIMS are electronic la notebooks, sample
management programs, process execution software, records management
software, applications interface, work flow tools, client tracking, best practice
and compliance databases, and ERP software.
 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an
Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard(29
CFR 1910.1450) in 2011 to facilitate laboratory safety.
 LIMS covers registration, billing, contact management, and monitoring of
accounts receivable.
 LIMS assist laboratories in setting priorities of current workloads, based on
availability of analyst and instrument.
 LIMS have functions that enable users to set standards about the relevant
range of patient test results, or to extract test result information for the
purpose of quality assurance.
 KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
 LIMS modules are commonly linked to a barcoding label generator, enabling a
fast and easy method to identify tubes, samples, documents, and many others.
The label can simply be printed on sticker and be placed on any item which
needs identification.
 A bi-directional interface application saves time in programming test orders
into the analyzer and eliminates errors in manual entry. This can result in a
considerable enhancement in analyzer productivity.