Chapter 12: Diagnostic Laboratory (LIMS) & Pathology Test Reports

The Diagnostic Laboratory Management System (test_report.php) manages pathology, biochemistry, microbiology, hematology, and imaging investigations from test ordering to report printing.

1. Diagnostic Test Master & Reference Ranges

Every diagnostic parameter in the test catalog includes:

Test Code & Department: Hematology, Biochemistry, Serology, Clinical Pathology, Microbiology, Radiology.
Sample Type: Whole Blood, Serum, Plasma, Urine, Stool, Sputum, CSF, Swab.
Biological Reference Intervals: Standard normal min/max ranges with age (Infant, Child, Adult) and gender (Male, Female) variations.
Unit of Measurement: (e.g. g/dL, mg/dL, mmol/L, cells/cu.mm).

2. Sample Collection & Barcode Tracking

When a test is ordered from OPD Consultation or IPD Doctor Rounds, it appears on the Lab Worklist.
Phlebotomist collects the specimen and clicks Sample Collected.
The system generates a barcode sample label with the patient's UHID and Test Code to attach to the vacutainer tube.

3. Parameter Entry & Critical Panic Value Alerts

The lab technician enters the observed analytical values in the Test Result Entry Desk.
Automated Abnormal Flags:

- Values within reference range appear in standard black text. - Values outside normal bounds are flagged in Bold Red (Abnormal) with [HIGH] or [LOW] flags. - Critical panic thresholds (e.g. Hemoglobin < 6.0 g/dL or Potassium > 6.5 mmol/L) trigger an immediate popup alert prompting urgent physician notification.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     DIAGNOSTIC TEST REPORT RESULT ENTRY                         │
├───────────────────────┬────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────┬─────────┤
│ Test Parameter        │ Observed   │ Unit      │ Reference Range      │ Flag    │
├───────────────────────┼────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────┼─────────┤
│ Hemoglobin (Hb)       │ 14.2       │ g/dL      │ 13.0 – 17.0 (Male)   │ Normal  │
│ Total Leukocyte (TLC) │ 14,800     │ /cu.mm    │ 4,000 – 11,000       │ ⚠️ HIGH │
│ Fasting Blood Sugar   │ 168        │ mg/dL     │ 70 – 100             │ ⚠️ HIGH │
│ Serum Creatinine      │ 0.9        │ mg/dL     │ 0.7 – 1.3            │ Normal  │
└───────────────────────┴────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────┴─────────┘

4. Report Authorization & Printing

Once results are verified by the Pathologist / Biochemist:

Click Authorize & Publish Report.
Print the formatted lab report on hospital letterhead with doctor digital signatures and QR verification.
The report is instantly visible on the patient's Patient 360° Record for attending doctors to review.