Laboratory Workflow

Overview

The NICE HMS Laboratory module manages the complete lab workflow: test ordering from OPD/IPD encounters, sample collection tracking, result entry, report generation, and billing integration.

Test Ordering

Tests can be ordered from two places:

From OPD/IPD Encounter (Doctor)

1. During a consultation, the doctor clicks Order Investigation.
2. Select tests from the test catalog (organized by department: Hematology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, etc.).
3. Add clinical notes for the pathologist if needed.
4. Submit. The order appears in the Lab module queue.

Direct Lab Entry (Lab Technician)

1. Navigate to Lab > New Order.
2. Search for the patient.
3. Select tests to be performed.
4. The order is created and queued for sample collection.

Sample Collection

1. Go to Lab > Sample Collection.
2. Locate the patient's order.
3. Record:
   • Collection date and time
   • Sample type — Blood, Urine, Swab, Tissue, etc.
   • Collection site — e.g., Left arm, Right antecubital fossa
   • Collector name
   • Specimen ID — Auto-generated per organization (specimenMaxId)
4. Print barcode labels for specimen tracking if needed.

Result Entry

1. Go to Lab > Result Entry.
2. Find the pending test order.
3. For each test parameter, enter:
   • Result value — Numeric or text
   • Reference range — Auto-populated based on test configuration
   • Flag — Auto-calculated: Normal, High, Low, Critical
4. Add pathologist comments if needed.
5. Click Save or Finalize.

Results can be entered manually or imported from instrument interfaces (if configured).

Report Generation

Once all results for an order are finalized:

1. Open the test order.
2. Click Generate Report.
3. The report compiles all results into a formatted PDF.
4. Options:
   • Print — Opens PDF in browser for printing.
   • Share — Send to patient via WhatsApp.
   • Mark as Delivered — Logs who received the report.

The report includes:

• Patient demographics
• Test names and results with reference ranges
• Flags for abnormal values
• Pathologist signature block
• Lab information (name, address, accreditation)

Test & Panel Management

Admins can configure the lab test catalog from Admin > Tests & Panels:

• Tests — Individual lab tests (e.g., Hemoglobin, Fasting Blood Sugar)
• Panels — Groups of tests ordered together (e.g., Complete Blood Count, Lipid Profile, LFT, KFT)
• Each test includes: name, department, specimen type, reference ranges (by age/gender), unit, and price

See Reseller Tests for how resellers manage test distribution.

Billing

Lab orders are automatically linked to the patient's bill:

• OPD lab orders → standalone lab bill or added to OPD bill
• IPD lab orders → added to IPD bill
• Pricing is per-test from the configured test catalog

FAQ

Q: Can I enter partial results and finalize the rest later? A: Yes. Save results as draft. Only finalized results appear on the printed report.

Q: How are reference ranges configured? A: Reference ranges are configurable per test, with optional age and gender variations. Set up from Admin > Tests & Panels.

Q: Can reports include previous results for comparison? A: When generating a report, the system shows previous results for the same test (if any) alongside the current result for trend analysis.