LIMS COMMUNICATIONS
Specifications for the Ax5 communication program
with a computer management system (LIMS)
LIMS: Laboratory Information Management System
Functionality of Software Ax5 in connection to the LIS:
-The system can work bidirectional connected to a LIS allowing to
receive working sessions and send results
-There are two systems to send results to the LIS:
• EXPAuto file (“Reset”)
• OnLine file
-Possibility of sending results to the host automatically in real time:
• At the end of each test
• At the end of the patient
• At the end of the session
-Icon for sending results manually
-Icon for receiving one work list from the LIS
-Check of the information that is received for the software
-Text to identify the results that have been sent to the LIS
Import system of a work session from a connection to the LIS
-The import system of the work session is directed from the folder "Import"
in the program directory
-The LIS must generate inside the folder "Import" a file named "import.txt”
(in txt format) with the work list properly structured to be interpreted
correctly by the software:
Import system of a work session from a connection to the LIS
-The import file must contain one row per test and the fields must be
separated by a tab (ASCII code 09)
-The patient ID and the test ID must to have a maximum the characters
indicated in the table above. Other fields must have the exact size shown
in the table
-The software checks for the file "import.txt" when we go into the screen
of “New Samples” to display the message and the icon for import
-The file "import.txt" is eliminated when we click in the icon and the
samples are recorded on the screen of “New Sample”
-The LIS should check if the file "import.txt" exist to add new samples
sent or create a new file
Import system of a work session from a connection to the LIS
-Sample import file example:
U SER PAC1234 ALT T15
U SER PAC1234 GLUCOSE T15
The patient is PAC1234 considered urgent for ALT and GLUCOSE tests and it is SERUM
type and is placed in a tube of diameter 15.
-The presence of this file generates the message: "There are some
samples for import" in the screen of “New Samples”
-The program checks if the information in "import.txt" is correct, creating
the "error.txt” file if it detects some incompatibility error in programming.
In this case, one message and the icon "Import Errors" appears.
New icon to receive a work list from LIS
• Icon indicating that a new working
session to be imported from the LIS
Importing samples from LIS
•The work list is built into the screen of “New Samples”
•The file "import.txt" is removed pending generated a
new worklist
Error detection in the reception of samples
•The system will detect if there have been errors
in the reception of the samples
Error detection in the reception of samples
•The samples are incorporated up to find a format
compatibility error
•You can access to the type of error selecting the
appropriate option
Error detection in the reception of samples
•The system reports in detail what has been
the error that caused the interruption of the
load of the work session
List of possible errors during the import of the work list
Export process for samples
• Exist the functionality of “Reset” to send work session results
• An export document is automatically generated with the working
session results when we click in “Reset” icon in the “Export” folder
•The generated file is named EXPAuto(yyyy-mm-dd hh-mm)
•This file has been now modified including the date and time of obtaining
each result
Export process for samples from “Historical Results” (after Reset)
•We can resend the results so often as we want from the screen
“Historical Results” with the option “Export Results”
•In this case the generated file is named EXP(yyyy-mm-dd hh-mm)
•The format of this file is the same that the file EXPAuto (yyyy-mm-dd
hh-mm)
Possibility of sending results to the host automatically in real time
•Export Online Manual is installed by default
•We can select export the results automatically. We need to mark the
frequency of sending
•The automatic export in real
time can be configured:
After each test
After each patient
At the end of each session
Export process for samples using Online functionality
• If we use the online export functionality, a new file is created in the Export
folder with the data results, including data and hour when the results has
been creates
•We don’t need to do “Reset” to create this file and send the results
•The name of this export file is: ONLINE (yy-mm-dd hh-mm session) _n.txt
Export process for samples using Online functionality
•This new file is continuously modified automatically to include new
results inside (during the same working session)
•A new file is generated for each work session
•The format of this new file is the same that the file EXPAuto (yyyy-mm-
dd hh-mm)
•When there are manual repetitions or recalculations with a new
concentration value, it is exported automatically again.
Possibility of sending results to the host manually
•Text to indicate the •By selecting the icon, we can
results exported: "Exp" send results at anytime manually
Possibility of sending results to the host manually
-In this case, the user selects what and when to export the results
-Whenever a result is exported, the test “Exp” will appear next to the
selected box
-When there is a repetition, the repeated result appears as selected
by default and it will be sent.
- When two results for one test exist, the user can choose manually
what result want to send for each test
-If the first result was already exported, the user can export this
repetition again. In the export file, it will appear a second line with the
same patient code and test, but with the new concentration value. It
differ from the first one in the date and hour
-When there is a recalculation of the result (due to a change of blank
or of calibrator or some cancelation of replicate) and the first result
was ready exported, the “Exp” mark disappears from the screen of
results. This new value will be able to export manually again
New help fields and new design
• Information about the functionality of the connection
process to the LIMS can be consulted in the Help of
the Software
Hopefully these developments, help to improve the functionality of our
automated system and carry a substantial improvement to the user level.
