LIMS Introduction - hmislk/hmis GitHub Wiki
Introduction to LIMS
The Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) handles the complete lifecycle of laboratory investigations — from the moment a doctor orders a test through to report delivery to the patient. It is designed to be flexible enough to serve a single small lab or a network of departments and collecting centres sharing the same patient database.
What LIMS Does
Test Configuration
Every investigation is configured with its name, category, sample type, container, and fee structure. Each investigation can have its own report format — a layout that defines which parameters are measured, what reference ranges apply (adjustable by patient age and sex), and how the printed report looks. Calculated results (for example, MCH derived from RBC and HGB) are configured once and computed automatically during data entry.
Daily Workflow
The standard daily routine follows this sequence:
- Ordering — Tests are ordered from OPD, wards, or a collecting centre. A bill is raised and a barcode assigned.
- Barcode & sticker generation — At the phlebotomy area, adhesive stickers are printed for each sample container.
- Sample collection — The phlebotomist collects the sample and marks it as collected.
- Transport & reception — Samples travel to the lab. The lab technician scans and accepts each sample. Unfit samples can be rejected and a recollection requested.
- Worksheet printing (optional) — The MLT prints a batch worksheet listing all samples to be run.
- Analysis — Automated analyzers receive test orders and return results via bi-directional middleware. Manual tests are searched by ID or name and results entered by the MLT.
- Approval — An authorised user reviews and approves the report. Approved reports are locked for editing; only an authorised cancellation can re-open them.
- Distribution — A hard-copy report is printed and/or an SMS/email is sent to the patient with a link to their results.
Special Workflows
- Microbiology — Culture and sensitivity results are entered using a specialised layout with organism groups and antibiotic sensitivity dropdowns.
- Pathology / Haematology — Uses a template-based report format separate from biochemistry.
- Collecting centres — Remote collection points with their own fee schedules and credit arrangements.
- Courier / home collection — Couriers collect samples from patients' homes using a mobile-friendly interface and barcode printer.
- Patient portal & mobile app — Patients can view approved reports online. Serial results are displayed as trend charts.
Key Concepts to Know
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| Investigation | A single test or panel ordered for a patient (e.g., Full Blood Count, Urine RE) |
| PatientInvestigation | The specific order for a test linked to a patient, bill, and sample |
| Report format | The template that defines which data items appear on the printed report and in what layout |
| Reference range | The normal value range for a result parameter, configurable by age and sex |
| Flag | An automatic alert triggered when a result falls outside a defined threshold — can carry a custom message such as "Show this to the doctor immediately" |
| Approval / Authorisation | The sign-off step by an authorised MLT or pathologist that locks the report and allows printing |
| Collecting centre | A remote sample collection point affiliated with the main lab |
| Analyzer middleware | Software that bridges the analyzer hardware and the HMIS, sending test orders and receiving results automatically |
Where to Go Next
- New to the lab workflow? Start with Lab Workflow Overview.
- Raising a bill? See Laboratory Billing.
- Setting up investigations or report formats? See Administration.