Entering specimens should be a quick and efficient task.   If you find inefficiencies Contact Us or visit our Bulletin Board for help and advise.

Using coded Specimen Types, Volumes and Comments

Coded comments are designed to help you enter specimens into the system using the scanner, and not the keyboard.

If your system administrator has set up coded Types, Volumes and Comments, then you can use them at the time of entry.  If they are set up, you should have bar codes for each available coded comments at your station.

To use these coded comments during specimen entry, just read the bar code for the comment you wish to use before you read the specimen ID of the specimen you are entering.

For example, if you are entering a hemolyzed EDTA specimen with low volume you would do the following:

• Scan the bar code for the specimen type "EDTA"
• Scan the bar code for the comment "Hemolysed"
• Scan the bar code for the volume "< 0.5mL"
• Scan the Specimen ID

Note: This example assumes these three comments are set up in your system.

Using coded commands

Coded commands are designed to help you navigate the specimen entry screen using the bar code scanner.   If they are set up, you should have bar codes for each command at your station.

The available commands during specimen entry are:

• Close and save the rack
• Move to the previous space in the rack
• Move to the next space in the rack
• Move to the next available space in the rack
• Remove (Delete) the specimen from the rack
• Empty the rack (Remove all specimens)

Here are some examples:

Normal Entry Flow:

• Scan the Rack ID
• Scan the Specimens
• Scan "Close Rack" command

Lets say you forget to specify a specimen as "Hemolysed" while entering specimens.  Then the flow would be:

• Scan the "Previous" command to move up to the specimen record
• Scan the "Hemolysed" comment
• Scan the "Next" or "Next Open Space" command
• Resume scanning specimens

Using Edit Mode

Edit mode is designed for those organizations who want to store patient data with the specimen.  Edit mode can severely slow down your entry process.  If you want to save patient data with the specimen, it is recommended that you Contact Us to explore the implementation of an Interface with your LIS.   Edit mode works the same as normal entry mode, except the additional optional fields are displayed on the screen for additional data entry.

Refer to the following additional Guides:

• Basic Specimen Entry
• Specimen Retrieval
• Advanced Setup
• Basic Setup