What is a Test Order?
A test order is an individual test to be performed as part of an accession. Each test order references a specific test specification — the definition of what the test measures, its expected result type, and reference ranges. Test orders can also be grouped into panels — predefined collections of tests that are commonly ordered together (for example, a “Complete Blood Count” panel includes multiple individual test measurements).Test Order Status
Test orders don’t have an explicit status field. Instead, their state is derived from the results and other factors:- Active — The test order exists and has not been cancelled
- Has Results — One or more results have been entered for this test
- Validated — All results for this test have been validated by a second technician
- Finalized — Results have been approved and locked for reporting
- Cancelled — The test order has been cancelled and will not be completed
Panels vs. Individual Tests
- Panels
- Individual Tests
A panel is a group of related tests ordered together. When you order a panel, bLIS automatically creates individual test orders for each test in the panel.Common examples:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
- Liver Function Panel
- HLA Typing Panel
Reflex Testing
Some test results may automatically trigger additional tests based on predefined rules. This is called reflex testing. For example:- An abnormal screening result may trigger a confirmatory test
- A result that falls outside expected ranges may trigger a repeat test
Reflex tests are configured by your lab administrator. When a reflex test is triggered, you’ll see it appear as a new test order linked to the original accession.
Key Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Test Name | The name of the test being performed |
| Panel | The panel this test belongs to (if applicable) |
| Status | Current stage in the test order lifecycle |
| Result Type | The kind of result expected (numeric, text, or other) |
| Sample | The sample this test is being performed on |
Related
Results
Learn about entering and managing test results.
Accessions
Understand the accession that contains test orders.