LIMS Printing Worksheets - hmislk/hmis GitHub Wiki

Printing Worksheets

A worksheet is a printed list of patient samples and the tests to be run on them, used to organise batch analysis on the bench. Lab technicians use worksheets to track which samples have been processed and to record manual results before entering them into the system.

What Is a Worksheet?

A worksheet groups together a set of investigations — typically those received in a given time period or assigned to a specific instrument or bench — and presents them in a structured table. Each row shows:

  • The patient name and ID
  • The sample barcode number
  • The investigation name and parameters to be measured
  • Empty columns for the technician to write in raw results

Worksheets are printed before analysis begins and used as a working document during the run. Results written on the worksheet are later transferred into the system.

When to Print a Worksheet

Print a worksheet when:

  • Running a batch of manual tests where the analyst needs a paper reference.
  • The lab uses a semi-automated workflow where the analyzer result is written on the worksheet before being keyed into the system.
  • A quality control (QC) run requires a paper record of the results.
  • The department requires a physical sign-off from the analyst on the printed sheet.

For fully automated tests with direct analyzer interfacing, worksheets are optional — results arrive in the system automatically.

How to Print a Worksheet

  1. Go to Menu > Lab > Print Worksheets or open the Laboratory Dashboard and select the Worksheet tab.
  2. Set the search filters:
    • Date range — select the date(s) for which you want to pull samples.
    • Department — filter by the lab section (e.g., Biochemistry, Haematology).
    • Investigation — optionally narrow to a specific test (e.g., Blood Glucose, Full Blood Count).
    • Status — typically filter for samples with status Sample Accepted or Sample Received so only samples ready for analysis are included.
  3. Click Search. A list of matching investigations is displayed.
  4. Review the list. Select all, or tick specific investigations to include on the worksheet.
  5. Click Print Worksheet. The worksheet opens as a printable document.
  6. Send to the printer. Each page is formatted with the lab name, date, and a table of samples.

Worksheet print screen showing filters and sample list

Worksheet Format

The worksheet layout is configured by the lab administrator per investigation or investigation category. The format may include:

  • Column headers matching the investigation's parameters
  • Patient demographic section at the top of each page
  • Technician sign-off box at the bottom
  • QC row for the calibrator or control sample

If the worksheet format looks incorrect or does not match your bench's requirements, contact the lab administrator to review the report format configuration.

After Using the Worksheet

  1. Once analysis is complete, enter the results into the system using the Generation of Reports screen.
  2. File or archive the printed worksheet according to your institution's document retention policy.
  3. The worksheet itself is a working document — the official record is the result entered and approved in the system.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Print the worksheet as close to the start of the run as possible — new samples may arrive after printing and would need to be added manually.
  • Write results on the worksheet in pen, not pencil, if the sheet is part of your quality records.
  • If a result changes after the initial recording (dilution, repeat), cross out the original value neatly and write the corrected value with initials.
  • Worksheets for QC runs should be retained and filed as part of your ISO/accreditation documentation.

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