Molecular Labs Hold the Key to Evidence-Based Precision Medicine

Editor’s Note: A version of this article was published in MedCity News on August 12, 2021.

Like many parts of the healthcare industry, molecular testing laboratories are evolving incredibly fast. Almost daily, there are advances in everything from instrumentation to service delivery. No longer the mysterious hidden function tucked away in a remote part of the hospital, molecular testing labs are becoming a much more prominent part of the overall healthcare package. 

One reason for this new prominence is an increased emphasis on data-driven personalized care.   

“Molecular testing labs play an important role within evidence-based precision medicine,” stated Avero Diagnostics Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Bull. “A big reason why there is increased demand for molecular testing labs is that biochemical and molecular genetics are moving medical care forward. Molecular labs are quite literally responsible for providing much of the evidence for evidence-based precision care.” 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70 percent of today’s medical decisions depend on laboratory test results. This further highlights the important role that clinical laboratories play in today’s healthcare environment.

Learn More: What is the Best LIS for Molecular Testing Labs?

EBLM and Molecular Lab Software Technologies

This dynamic has even given rise to a new practice, known as evidence-based laboratory medicine (EBLM). This is a unique branch of evidence-based medicine that focuses on the evaluation and use of laboratory tests to improve patient outcomes. 

This means enterprises using molecular lab testing software (laboratory information systems that support molecular lab testing workflows) are becoming the key collectors and interpreters of the data provided by biological specimens, helping clinicians better understand clinical pathways and treatment options, including options for drug selection, specialized therapeutics, and other treatments. 

As EBLM continues to evolve, diagnostic tests—particularly in molecular medicine—have become so complex that physicians and their staff often struggle to interpret them. As a result, laboratories are increasingly relied upon to help healthcare providers understand the clinical significance of these test results.

Learn More: A Scalable Solution for Molecular LIS Testing Labs

“One of the biggest changes we have experienced recently is in the role that labs now play regarding the diagnosis and treatment of disease,” added Bull. “Traditionally, medical labs were only tasked with processing specimens and issuing reports. But because they have become so adept at understanding the treasure trove of medical data collected, labs are becoming a bigger part of the treatment team.”   

However, not all molecular lab testing software can be elevated to this role, as some lab directors and managers continue to operate with outdated laboratory information system (LIS) software, adding strain to the current heavy workloads. 

Recognizing the importance of advancing laboratory medicine, a growing number of industry leaders are now embracing future-ready molecular LIS system technology to drive innovation and support evolving diagnostic needs.

Learn More: How Test Orders are Accessioned in the Lab with LigoLab's Molecular LIS System

The Digital Transformation of Molecular Lab Software

According to the CDC, 14 billion laboratory tests are ordered annually, a volume that puts a significant strain on available lab resources. Therefore, labs without the proper tools or operating procedures are putting safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness at risk and jeopardizing the effective diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

“Modern molecular labs require laboratory information systems that go beyond basic order capture and result delivery,” said LigoLab CEO Suren Avunjian. “Labs need molecular LIS systems that ensure flexibility within and beyond a lab’s network, features specimen lifecycle sample tracking and support, promotes scalability and efficiency, and enhances a lab’s value as a revenue center and care partner.”  

LigoLab is a leading provider of pathology lab software, offering advanced LIS software solutions tailored for medical laboratories, including a robust platform for molecular testing.

“Traditional LIS systems no longer cut it in today’s clinical testing lab environment,” added Avunjian. “Molecular labs need molecular LIS systems that can connect across all corners of the diagnostic landscape, including instrumentation, lab management analytics, robust decision support, effective quality controls, third-party interoperability with electronic health records (EHRs), decision population health tools, and other laboratory software systems.” 

Avero Diagnostics (formerly Northwest Laboratory and Northwest Pathology) has provided a wide range of laboratory services for nearly 30 years. The fast-growing full-service multi-state lab operation has partnered with LigoLab for its LIS system and in-house laboratory billing/lab revenue cycle management software for more than a decade. 

Learn More: Maximizing Your Lab’s Profitability: The Case for In-House Lab Billing

What the Future Holds for Molecular LIS Labs

Despite the challenges that molecular lab directors and managers face, the future of evidence-based precision medicine remains bright for patients and the healthcare industry. Patients who suffer from complex or rare illnesses face better prospects than in the past, and molecular labs are a big reason why. 

As the future unfolds, technological developments and advanced laboratory information system software will help these organizations meet many of the challenges ahead, especially as molecular analysis tools continue to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of disease. 

Consider, for example, what’s possible with the molecular analysis of DNA. Healthcare professionals can now diagnose previously undiagnosable patients, determine predisposition for certain diseases, tailor treatments, and precisely monitor response rates to therapeutics.

Given their critical role in evidence-based precision medicine, molecular laboratories are poised for continued growth and innovation. However, labs that delay investment in modern pathology LIS systems and molecular LIS technology risk falling behind. That would be a missed opportunity—not only for patient care, but also for driving cost efficiency across the entire healthcare system.

LigoLab’s Molecular Lab Testing Software 

As a comprehensive enterprise-grade LIS pathology lab software solution, the LigoLab informatics platform includes modules for anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, laboratory billing, and direct-to-consumer lab testing (TestDirectly), all on a unified integrated LIS system infrastructure that’s infinitely configurable and that supports every department, role, and case. 

LigoLab’s pathology software features specimen barcoding and sample tracking support, a robust and searchable audit trail, compliance verification at every stage, a built-in interface engine, flexible rule and automation engines, and fully customizable reports with multiple delivery options. With LigoLab, medical laboratories can differentiate, scale efficiently, and become more profitable. 

Case Study: A Conversation With LIS System Administrator Kristie Becerra

LigoLab’s laboratory billing solutions are fully integrated within its pathology lab software, enabling labs to initiate lab billing at the point of order entry. This proactive approach reduces late-stage denials by up to 98 percent and drives substantial improvements in net collections.

Learn More: Six Reasons Why You Should Choose an Integrated Laboratory Billing Solution for Your Medical Lab

LigoLab enhances the laboratory billing process with real-time insurance verification, eligibility checks, claim scrubbing, and automated ICD/CPT coding and client billing. All lab revenue cycle management functions are fully integrated into LigoLab’s live, queue-based workflow, delivering full transparency and seamless end-to-end operational efficiency.

Ready to modernize your lab operations and boost revenue performance? Contact LigoLab today to learn how its fully integrated medical LIS & lab RCM platform can support your growth goals.