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What is a Hold?

A hold is a flag placed on an accession to pause processing and alert lab staff to a special condition that requires attention before work can continue. Holds prevent results from being finalized or reports from being generated until the issue is resolved.

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When to Use Holds

Common scenarios for placing a hold:

Sample Quality Issues

Sample is hemolyzed, clotted, insufficient quantity, or otherwise compromised.

Missing Information

Required patient information, clinical details, or test specifications are incomplete.

Pending Confirmatory Testing

Initial results require confirmation or additional testing before reporting.

Client Communication Needed

Need to contact the client about results, specimen issues, or billing questions.

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Types of Holds

Holds can be categorized by their purpose:
TypeWhen to Use
SpecimenSample quality issues (hemolysis, clotting, insufficient volume)
ClinicalMissing clinical information needed for interpretation
TechnicalEquipment malfunction, reagent issues, or QC failures
AdministrativeBilling questions, missing paperwork, or authorization issues
Hold types may vary based on your lab’s configuration. Check with your lab manager for specific hold categories available in your system.

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Creating a Hold

1

Open the accession

Navigate to the accession that needs a hold.
2

Click 'Add Hold'

Look for the Add Hold or Create Hold button (location varies by view).
3

Select hold type

Choose the appropriate hold category.
4

Enter a description

Provide a clear explanation of why the hold is being placed and what needs to be resolved.
5

Submit

Save the hold. The accession will now be flagged with an active hold indicator.

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Active Hold Indicators

Accessions with active holds are prominently marked:
  • Hold icon appears on the accession in list views
  • Hold banner displays at the top of the accession detail view
  • Hold description explains why the hold was placed
  • Status blocking prevents finalization and reporting

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Resolving Holds

To resolve a hold:
1

Address the issue

Take the necessary action to resolve the problem (recollect specimen, obtain missing information, complete confirmatory testing, etc.).
2

Document resolution

Add a comment to the accession explaining how the issue was resolved.
3

Remove the hold

Click Remove Hold or Resolve Hold to clear the flag.
4

Continue processing

The accession can now proceed through the normal workflow.
Only remove a hold after the underlying issue has been fully resolved. Removing a hold without addressing the problem can lead to incorrect results or reporting errors.

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Hold History

bLIS maintains a complete history of all holds:
  • When each hold was created
  • Who created the hold
  • Why the hold was placed
  • When the hold was resolved
  • Who resolved the hold
This audit trail is important for quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

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Permissions

  • Creating holds — Typically available to Lab Techs and above
  • Removing holds — May require Lab Manager or higher permissions, depending on your lab’s configuration
If you encounter a hold but don’t have permission to resolve it, add a comment explaining what you’ve found and notify a lab manager.

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Impact on Workflow

While a hold is active:
  • ❌ Results cannot be finalized
  • ❌ Reports cannot be generated
  • ✅ Results can still be entered
  • ✅ Tests can still be performed
  • ✅ The accession remains visible and accessible

Managing Accessions

Full accession processing workflow.

Accessions Concept

Understand the accession lifecycle.