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Overview

Result validation is the quality control step where a second technician reviews entered results to confirm accuracy before they are finalized and included in reports. This double-check process helps prevent errors from reaching patients and clinicians.
Not all tests require validation. Whether a test needs validation depends on its configuration and your lab’s standard operating procedures.

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The Validation Process

1

Result Entry

A technician enters the initial result value (either manually or from an instrument).
2

Validation Review

A second technician reviews the result for accuracy. Depending on your lab’s SOP:
  • Visual review — Check the entered value against the instrument output or worksheet
  • Double entry — Re-enter the result independently and confirm it matches
3

Mark as Validated

If the result is correct, click Validate to mark it as validated.
4

Ready for Finalization

Once all results in an accession are validated, they can be finalized by an authorized user.

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Who Can Validate Results?

Validation permissions vary by lab configuration:
  • Different technician required — The validator must be someone other than the person who entered the result
  • Same technician allowed — Some tests allow self-validation (typically simple or automated tests)
  • Auto-validation — Some tests are automatically validated (e.g., results uploaded directly from validated instruments)
If you try to validate a result you entered and get an error, this means your lab requires a different technician to perform validation for quality assurance.

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Double-Entry Validation

For tests that require double-entry validation:
1

Open the result

Navigate to the result that needs validation.
2

Enter the value

Type the result value based on your source (instrument printout, worksheet, etc.).
3

Submit

Click Validate or Submit.
4

Automatic comparison

bLIS compares your entry to the original. If they match, the result is validated. If they don’t match, you’ll see an error.

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If Values Don’t Match

When your validation entry doesn’t match the original:
  1. Check your source — Verify you’re reading the correct value
  2. Check the original entry — The first technician may have made an error
  3. Investigate the discrepancy — Determine which value is correct
  4. Notify a supervisor — If unsure, involve a lab manager to resolve the discrepancy
Never “force” a validation by changing your entry to match if you believe the original is incorrect. Instead, have a supervisor review and correct the original entry.

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Visual Review Validation

For tests that use visual review instead of double-entry:
1

Open the result

View the result that needs validation.
2

Compare to source

Verify the entered value matches the source document (instrument printout, manual recording, etc.).
3

Check for flags

Look for any warnings or flags that require attention.
4

Mark as validated

If correct, click Validate.

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Validating Instrument Results

When results come directly from connected instruments:
  • Pre-validated results — Some instruments are configured so their results are automatically validated
  • Review-only validation — Technician reviews the result but doesn’t re-enter it
  • Manual validation required — Even instrument results need a second technician to validate
The validation method depends on your lab’s trust level in each instrument and regulatory requirements.

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What to Check During Validation

When validating results, look for:
Does the value match the source? Are there any transcription errors?
Is the result biologically plausible? Extremely high or low values may indicate errors.
Are the correct units used? (mg/dL vs. g/L, etc.)
Are there any system flags, warnings, or critical value alerts that need attention?
Have quality control samples passed for this test run or time period?

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Batch Validation

For high-volume testing, you may validate multiple results at once:
  1. Filter for pending validation — Show only results that need validation
  2. Review each result — Check each value systematically
  3. Validate in batch — Some systems allow selecting multiple results and validating them together
  4. Verify all are valid — Ensure no errors or flags before batch validation
Batch validation is faster but requires careful attention. If you’re unsure about any result in the batch, validate it individually instead.

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After Validation

Once validated:
  • ✅ Result is marked with validated status
  • ✅ Timestamp and validator ID are recorded
  • ✅ Result can now be finalized by an authorized user
  • ✅ Result is one step closer to being included in a report

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Troubleshooting

Cause: You entered the original result, and your lab requires a different technician to validate.Solution: Ask a colleague to validate the result.
Cause: Results may already be validated or may not require validation.Solution: Check the result status. If it shows “validated” already, no action is needed.
Cause: Your validation entry doesn’t match the original entry.Solution:
  1. Check your source document
  2. If you believe your entry is correct, notify a supervisor
  3. Don’t change your entry just to make it match

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Best Practices

Validate Promptly

Validate results soon after entry to avoid delays in reporting.

Use Original Sources

Always validate against the original source (instrument printout, worksheet) not just the screen.

Question Unusual Results

If a result seems implausible, investigate before validating.

Document Issues

If you find errors or discrepancies, add a comment explaining what you found.

Entering Results

Learn how to enter initial results.

Results Concept

Understand the complete result pipeline.

Generating Reports

Create reports after results are validated and finalized.