LIMS Admin Investigation Items - hmislk/hmis GitHub Wiki
Investigation Items & Parameters
An investigation item (also called a parameter or component) is a single measurable field within an investigation. For example, a Full Blood Count investigation has items such as WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and PLT. This article explains how to add and configure items for an investigation.
Accessing Investigation Item Configuration
- Go to Menu > Admin > LIMS > Investigations.
- Find and open the investigation you want to configure.
- Go to the Items or Parameters tab.
Adding a New Item
- Click Add Item.
- Fill in the following fields:
Basic Details
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Internal name (e.g., "WBC") |
| Printing Name | Name shown on the report (e.g., "White Blood Cells") |
| Short Name | Abbreviated label used in worksheets and analyzer code mapping |
| Order Number | Display sequence on the report — items are sorted by this number (lowest first) |
| Unit | The measurement unit shown next to the result (e.g., "10³/µL", "g/dL", "mmol/L") |
Item Type
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Numeric | A quantitative result with a decimal value (e.g., 12.4 g/dL) |
| Text / Categorical | A result selected from a predefined list of values (e.g., Positive / Negative, 1+ / 2+ / 3+) |
| Memo / Free text | A long-form text entry (e.g., morphology description, clinical comment) |
| Antibiotic List | A container item that groups antibiotic sensitivity results (used in microbiology) |
| Antibiotic | An individual antibiotic within an antibiotic list (used in microbiology) |
| Calculated | A value computed from other items using a configured formula |
| Image | An image upload field (e.g., peripheral blood film photograph) |
Data Entry Method
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Manual | The MLT types the result during report entry |
| Automated | The result is received from the analyzer via middleware — no manual entry needed |
If Automated is selected, link the item to a specific Machine (analyzer). See Analyzer Automation Mapping.
Approval Validation
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Cannot approve if value is empty | Prevents report approval until this field is filled in |
| Cannot approve if below absolute minimum | Blocks approval if the entered value is below the set minimum (catches implausible values) |
| Cannot approve if above absolute maximum | Blocks approval if the value exceeds the set maximum |
| Absolute minimum | The physiological lower bound (e.g., 0 for most measurements) |
| Absolute maximum | The physiological upper bound (e.g., 30 for haemoglobin in g/dL) |
| Warning message | Custom text displayed when the validation rule is triggered |
- Click Save Item. The item appears in the investigation's parameter list.
Configuring Predefined Values (for Categorical Items)
For item types where the result is selected from a list (e.g., Positive / Negative, Trace / 1+ / 2+ / 3+):
- Open the item and go to the Values sub-tab.
- Click Add Value for each option in the list.
- Enter the display label (what the MLT sees in the dropdown) and an optional code (for interface mapping).
- Set the order number to control the sequence in the dropdown.
- Save.
Reordering Items
Items are displayed on the report in order number sequence. To change the display order:
- Edit each item and update its Order Number.
- Save. The report layout preview updates immediately.
Deleting or Retiring an Item
If a parameter is no longer measured:
- Open the item.
- Click Retire or set it to inactive.
Retiring an item hides it from new reports but preserves historical data in existing approved reports.