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What is a Sample?

A sample is the biological material collected from a subject for laboratory testing — such as blood, serum, urine, tissue, or other specimen types. Each sample is linked to an accession and can be used for one or more test orders.

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Sample Tracking

bLIS can track a variety of details about each sample. The specific fields available depend on your lab’s configuration:

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Standard Fields

  • Sample Type — The type of biological material (blood, serum, urine, etc.)
  • Tube Type — The collection container used
  • Collection Timestamp — When the sample was collected, including timezone
  • Processing Timestamps — When refrigerated, centrifuged, or frozen
  • Temperature Data — Storage temperature and type
  • Expiration Date — For samples with limited shelf life
  • Display ID — A unique identifier for labeling and tracking

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Custom Fields

Your lab can configure additional custom fields based on your specific needs. For example:
  • Source — For microbiology samples (wound, blood culture, etc.)
  • Lot Number — For quality control samples
  • Transfusion Details — For transfusion medicine workflows
Not all labs use all fields. The fields you see depend on your laboratory’s configuration and the type of testing you perform.

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Collection Details

Each sample records when and how it was collected:

Collection Time

The exact date and time the sample was collected from the subject, with timezone information for accurate tracking.

Processing Steps

Timestamps for refrigeration, centrifugation, and freezing are tracked to maintain chain of custody.

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Sample Types and Tubes

Different tests require different sample types and collection tubes. Your lab’s available sample types and tube types are configured by your administrator. Common examples:
  • Blood samples may use EDTA, SST, or Heparin tubes
  • Serum samples typically use SST (gold top) tubes
  • Urine samples use sterile containers
  • Tissue or culture samples have specialized containers
The tube type determines which tests can be performed and affects sample stability and handling requirements.

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Linking Samples to Tests

Test orders are linked to specific samples. When creating a test order, you specify which sample to use. This allows:
  • Multiple tests on the same sample
  • Different tests on different samples from the same accession
  • Tracking which sample was used for each result
You can track multiple samples per accession. For example, a single accession might have both a blood sample and a urine sample, each used for different test orders.

Accessions

Learn about the accessions that samples belong to.

Test Orders

See how test orders reference samples.