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Lab Test Workflow ​

User Story ​

As a laboratory user, I want to process lab orders from collection to results so that diagnostic reports are available to physicians and patients.

Entry Point ​

  • Service Request created from Patient Encounter (on submit)
  • Direct: Desk > Lab Test > New

Steps ​

  1. Service request created

    • Trigger: Patient Encounter submitted with lab prescriptions
    • API: patient_encounter.create_service_request(encounter)
    • Data changed: Service Request (status: active)

  2. Create lab test

    • User action: From Service Request, click "Create > Lab Test"
    • API: service_request.make_lab_test(service_request)
    • Data changed: Lab Test record created

  3. Collect sample

    • Screen: Sample Collection form
    • User action: Record sample details (type, collection time)
    • Data changed: Sample Collection record

  4. Create observations

    • User action: Select samples and create observations
    • API: sample_collection.create_observation(selected, sample_collection, component_observations)
    • Data changed: Observation records created (one per test item)

  5. Record results

    • User action: Enter test values (numeric, text, or select)
    • API: observation.record_observation_result(values)
    • Data changed: Observation result fields populated

  6. Approve observations

    • User action: Set status to "Approved"
    • API: observation.set_observation_status(observation, "Approved")
    • Data changed: Observation status updated

  7. Generate diagnostic report

    • Automatic or manual: Groups approved observations
    • Data changed: Diagnostic Report record
    • API: diagnostic_report.set_observation_status(docname)

  8. Update lab test status

    • API: lab_test.update_status(status, name)
    • Data changed: Lab Test status → Completed/Approved

Error States ​

  • Sample not collected → cannot create observations
  • Observation not approved → not included in diagnostic report
  • Missing reference ranges → results shown without interpretation

Permissions ​

  • Laboratory User: Full lab access (tests, samples, observations, reports)
  • Physician: Can view results, order tests
  • Patient: Can view results in portal
  • Backend: healthcare/healthcare/doctype/lab_test/lab_test.py
  • Sample: healthcare/healthcare/doctype/sample_collection/sample_collection.py
  • Observation: healthcare/healthcare/doctype/observation/observation.py
  • Report: healthcare/healthcare/doctype/diagnostic_report/diagnostic_report.py