Medical lab software, more technically referred to as a laboratory information system (LIS), allows medical labs and clinics to automate their collection and testing operations, manage their samples and data, and maintain regulatory compliance. These patient-centric solutions are most commonly used by labs that handle clinical testing or pathology and are geared toward the healthcare persona. Through integrations and automated workflows, medical lab software reduces sample turnaround time, manages total lifecycle of lab specimens, facilitates direct communication with providers and patients, and provides lab managers with a 360-degree view of lab operations. Most products should support patient eligibility and insurance verification. Medical lab software can also assist with e-commerce, revenue cycle management, and billing. These features are useful for diagnostic testing sites that offer on-demand testing services to consumers. Importantly, the software also supports HIPAA and related privacy compliance, as well as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).
Medical lab software supports standard diagnostic testing workflows, but most products will also allow for molecular, genetic, and toxicology testing, among other specialties. In addition to lab instruments, these solutions can integrate with a number of other platforms utilized by clinical labs, including CRM systems, medical billing software, revenue cycle management software, and electronic health records or EHR software. Medical lab software contains some of the management features present in laboratory information management or LIMS systems. However, a LIMS is intended for research labs and does not support clinical workflows.
To qualify for inclusion in the Medical Lab category, a product must:
- Track and manage all specimens for each patient, creating an audit trail for the full lifecycle
- Integrate with medical laboratory testing instruments
- Offer direct-to-consumer communication features, and allow patients to access test results
- Manage test ordering and results dispatching
- Interface with electronic medical records (EMR) or EHR systems, and manage patient data
- Support patient billing and revenue cycle management, either natively or through integrations