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The laboratory module manages every step of a lab test at the clinic: the doctor orders it in the consultation, the lab team collects the sample, enters the results, and an approver reviews them before the report reaches the patient. Every step is tracked and linked to the same patient record.

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Before You Start

  • Lab Test Templates must be set up for each test your lab performs.
  • Lab Test Samples must be configured (Blood, Urine, Swab, Stool, etc.).
  • The Laboratory User role is required to process tests and enter results.
  • The LabTest Approver role is required to approve and release results.

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The Lab Test Lifecycle

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Step 1: Lab Test is Ordered

When a doctor adds a lab test to the consultation (Patient Encounter), the system creates a Lab Test record automatically (if “Submit Orders on Save” is enabled in Healthcare Settings). If the test is ordered outside a consultation:
  1. Go to Healthcare workspace → Laboratory card → Lab Test → New
  2. Select the patient and test template
  3. Save

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Step 2: Setting Up Lab Test Templates (Admin Task)

Before results can be entered, each test must have a template. This is a one-time admin setup.
  1. Go to Healthcare workspace → Laboratory Setup card → Lab Test Template → New
The Normal Test Items table defines what results the technician will enter: parameter name, normal range, and unit of measurement.

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Step 3: Sample Collection

The sample must be collected from the patient and registered before processing.
  1. Go to Healthcare workspace → Laboratory card → Sample Collection → New
Sample Collection form showing patient, sample type, linked lab test, collected date, collected time, and practitioner fields
  1. Fill in the details:
  1. Save and Submit

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Step 4: Entering Results

Once the sample has been processed in the lab:
  1. Go to Healthcare workspace → Laboratory card → Lab Test → open the pending test
  2. Scroll to the Normal Test Result table
Lab Test form showing result date, lab technician field, and the normal test result table with parameter, result, normal range, and units columns
  1. For each parameter, enter:
  1. Fill in the Lab Technician (who processed the sample) and the Result Date
  2. Save

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Step 5: Approving Results

If “Do not print or email Lab Tests without Approval” is on in Healthcare Settings, an approver must review results before they are released.
  1. The Lab Approver opens the pending Lab Test record
  2. Reviews all parameter values for accuracy
  3. Checks any results that are outside the normal range - these may need to be flagged to the doctor
  4. Clicks Submit to finalise and approve
The Approved Date is recorded automatically on submission.

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Step 6: Sharing Results with the Patient

Once approved (submitted), the lab test can be shared:
  • Print: Open the Lab Test and click Print to produce a formatted lab report
  • Email: Click Email to send the report to the patient’s email address on their profile
The system sends an SMS to the patient’s mobile number automatically:
  • “Result Printed Message” fires when the Print action is used
  • “Result Emailed Message” fires when the Email action is used
Both SMS messages are configured in Healthcare Settings. Patients with portal access can also view their results online. See Patient Portal.

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Culture and Sensitivity Tests

For tests where bacteria are cultured and tested against antibiotics (such as urine culture or wound swab culture):
  1. The results table has a Sensitivity Test Result section
  2. Add each organism grown in culture
  3. For each organism, record which antibiotics it is sensitive to, resistant to, or intermediate
  4. This helps the doctor prescribe the right antibiotic

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Field Guide: Lab Test

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Field Guide: Sample Collection

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Troubleshooting

A lab test record was not created after the consultation Check that “Submit Orders on Save” is enabled in Healthcare Settings. If not, create the lab test manually: go to Lab Test → New and fill in the patient and template. I cannot submit the lab test (approve it) You need the LabTest Approver role. Also check that all result rows have been filled in - empty required fields prevent submission. The patient’s email address did not receive the result Check that the email on the patient record is correct and that email settings in BAS are configured. Also verify that the lab test is submitted (unapproved tests cannot be emailed). The normal range column is blank for a parameter The Lab Test Template does not have normal ranges configured for that parameter. Ask the admin to update the template.

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Best Practices

  • Set up all Lab Test Templates before going live - result entry is not possible without them
  • Always create a Sample Collection record before processing the test - this gives you traceability if a sample is lost or mislabelled
  • Enter results the same day the test is processed - delayed entry delays patient care
  • If a result is critically abnormal (very high or very low), contact the ordering doctor directly rather than waiting for the patient to view it via the portal
  • Set up the Lab Test Approval setting if your clinic has a formal result review process - this prevents unapproved results from reaching patients