Lab Result Validation — From Analysis to Secure Publication

What Is Lab Result Validation?

Lab result validation is the systematic process through which results obtained from analyzers are verified, approved, and released for delivery to the patient and physician. It is the final stage of the analytical workflow and the quality gate that ensures no incorrect, incomplete, or clinically suspicious result reaches the end recipient.

This process is divided into two levels: technical validation (or auto-verification), where automated rules release results that fall within normal ranges based on the test type and patient population; and clinical validation, where an authorized professional manually reviews results that present critical values, inconsistencies, or alerts configured by the laboratory.

Why It Matters in Healthcare

A clinical laboratory generates thousands of results every day. Manually validating each one would be impractical and, paradoxically, less safe than an automated system with well-configured rules. Validation matters because:

• Automatic technical validation: auto-verification rules by analyte and population allow automatic release of results within normal ranges, shortening turnaround times without compromising accuracy.
• Critical value alerts: when a result falls outside safe ranges, the system immediately alerts a professional for review before publication, safeguarding the patient.
• Approval workflow by authorized professionals: only qualified personnel can approve and release results, ensuring professional accountability at every stage.
• Automated publication: once approved, results are automatically published on the patient and physician portals, eliminating manual delays.
• Complete audit trail: every step in the validation process is logged with date, time, and user, creating an indispensable audit trail for accreditation and regulatory compliance (ISO 15189).

How Davix Relates to Lab Result Validation

The Davix LIS includes a configurable validation engine that automates and controls the entire result verification and release process. Its capabilities include:

• A configurable auto-verification rules engine by analyte, profile, and population (age, sex) that automatically releases results within established parameters.
• A critical value alert system that automatically escalates to the responsible professional for immediate review.
• A differentiated approval workflow: technical validation by lab staff and clinical validation by authorized professionals, with strict permission controls.
• Automatic publication to the patient portal and the referring physician platform once the approval cycle is complete.
• A complete audit trail recording every interaction with the result, from analyzer reception to final delivery.

Result validation is the assurance that laboratory speed does not compromise patient safety. A well-configured validation engine is as critical as the analyzer that generates the data.