Improving the post-analytical timeliness and organizational structure for reporting chemical pathology laboratory investigation results of patients in teaching hospital Kalutara

Abstract

Clinical laboratories are healthcare facilities where medical technologists perform various tests on biological specimens from patients. These laboratories are classified into four types: chemical pathology, histopathology, microbiology, and hematology, with chemical pathology conducting the most tests. To ensure accurate results, laboratories follow three standard testing phases: pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical. The post-analytical phase includes reporting results to healthcare professionals, where errors can occur due to manual data entry, transmission issues, and other factors. At Teaching Hospital Kalutara (THK), the process of reporting laboratory results involves sending paper-based reports to wards, often causing delays in treatment decisions. This research aims to develop a Laboratory Information System (LIS) for real-time transmission of test results, improving the efficiency and accuracy of patient care.