LIS — Laboratory Information System

What Is a LIS?

A LIS (Laboratory Information System) is a software platform designed to manage the end-to-end workflow of a clinical laboratory. It tracks samples from the moment an order is placed, through collection, processing, and analysis, to the final delivery of validated results to the ordering physician. A LIS also handles quality control, inventory management, regulatory compliance, and billing.

In essence, a LIS does for the laboratory what a RIS does for radiology—it orchestrates the information layer so that clinicians can focus on the science rather than the paperwork.

Why It Matters in Healthcare

Clinical laboratories generate a massive volume of data daily. Without a robust LIS, facilities face transcription errors, lost samples, delayed reports, and difficulty meeting accreditation requirements. A well-implemented LIS provides:

• Sample traceability: Barcoded specimens are tracked at every stage, reducing misidentification and improving patient safety.
• Automated instrument interfaces: Analyzers communicate results directly to the LIS, eliminating manual data entry and the errors it introduces.
• Turnaround time reduction: Automated validation rules allow normal results to be released faster, while flagging critical values for immediate attention.
• Quality management: Built-in QC modules help labs meet standards from organizations like CAP, CLIA, and ISO 15189.
• Interoperability: Through HL7 messaging and increasingly FHIR APIs, a LIS exchanges orders and results with the HIS and EHR, ensuring that laboratory data is available wherever it is needed.

LIS Workflow Stages

The value of a LIS lies in its ability to govern every phase of the laboratory process, from patient identification through to validated result delivery. In a multi-site environment with high production volumes, each stage must operate in an automated and integrated manner.

• Pre-analytical stage: Covers patient identification, barcode label generation, and sample reception. Each container is linked to the patient and the specific purchased procedure, ensuring integrity from the point of origin and eliminating the possibility of sample mix-ups.
• Analytical stage: The LIS integrates bidirectionally with analyzers and medical equipment. It sends work orders to instruments and receives analyte results electronically, eliminating manual transcription and the data-entry errors associated with it.
• Post-analytical stage: Provides validation tools for laboratory professionals to verify results and flag critical values. Once approved, the system automates publication and delivery of reports to authorized channels—patient and physician portals—ensuring speed of delivery without compromising clinical oversight.
• Technical kardex integration: Controls reagent and supply consumption per medical device and per procedure performed. By integrating with the hospital logistics system, it enables exact material cost traceability per analysis, facilitating real-cost control and automatic stock replenishment at each site.

How Davix Relates to LIS

The Davix LIS is a cloud-native laboratory information system built to serve clinical laboratories of all sizes—from independent reference labs to hospital-based departments. Key features include:

• Full sample lifecycle management with barcode and QR code tracking.
• Bidirectional interfaces with leading analyzers and middleware platforms.
• Native HL7 and FHIR connectivity for seamless hospital integration with the Davix HIS and third-party systems.
• Configurable auto-validation rules to accelerate result reporting.
• A patient-facing portal for online result delivery, reducing front-desk workload.

Whether you operate a high-throughput reference laboratory or a hospital core lab, the Davix LIS helps you improve accuracy, speed, and compliance while lowering operational costs.