Remembering COVID: Northwest Laboratory Leads the Way with its 24-Hour Commitment for COVID-19 Test Results

Many months have passed since the World Health Organization officially declared the global COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was over on May 11, 2023. As life returns to normal, it’s natural for many to move beyond the challenges of the pandemic. Yet, for those in the healthcare industry using diagnostic lab software, it’s equally important to pause, reflect, and carry forward the critical lessons learned to prepare for future infectious disease threats that are surely on the horizon.

Discover More: End of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Declaration

At LigoLab, supporting our lab customers during the pandemic was a top priority. We focused on understanding their needs and delivering innovative medical laboratory information systems/lab pathology software solutions to help them navigate the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. From rapidly developing new laboratory information system functions and advanced laboratory billing solutions to direct-to-consumer lab testing tools and workflows that ensure patient and provider safety, our efforts were guided by collaboration and a shared mission.

Among these efforts was documenting inspiring stories from our customers on the frontlines. One such story features a full-service laboratory operation in Bellingham, Washington. Avero Diagnostics (formerly Northwest Laboratory) earned recognition for its high-volume COVID-19 testing and consistent 24-hour turnaround times, setting a benchmark for efficiency and reliability during the crisis.

As we look back on these milestones and what was documented and written at that time, we honor the resilience of our LIS healthcare industry and recommit to advancing laboratory operations for a healthier future.

Avero Diagnostics quickly established itself as a leader in COVID-19 testing and reporting in the early days of the pandemic. As we remember COVID and how it changed how medical labs and patients interacted overnight, let’s look back at a LigoLab Case Study first published on November 4, 2020. 

Northwest Laboratory: An Innovative Leader in Fast and Accurate COVID-19 Testing and Reporting 

Case Study Summary: For COVID-19 testing to be effective, turnaround times must be quick. This is only possible at scale when using robust pathology lab reporting software that integrates and supports the complete life-cycle of a case, from patient self-sign-up and scheduling, through specimen collection and laboratory processing, to report delivery and laboratory billing/lab revenue cycle management. 

This case study showcases how Northwest Laboratory successfully delivers testing services to over 4,000 long-term care facilities in Florida, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and several other large-scale contracts. By leveraging LigoLab’s laboratory information system software and the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer portal, Northwest has processed approximately 1.5 million COVID-19 tests since the start of the pandemic, reporting 98 percent of results to patients via email or SMS within 24 hours.

Key contributors to this efficiency and accuracy include patient self-registration, the use of unique QR codes linked to individual specimens, and advanced molecular lab software integration supporting batch scanning, plate mapping, rack scanning, and pooled testing workflows.

Protecting Florida’s Most Vulnerable Through Proactive Testing

Case Study from November 4, 2020: ‍

If you’ve been following this blog, you’re likely familiar with the pivotal role Northwest Laboratory (NWL) has played (and continues to play) in COVID-19 testing, both regionally and nationwide. For new readers, this case study offers a detailed look at how NWL earned a statewide testing contract with the Florida Department of Health in the early stages of the pandemic.

This initiative centered on proactive, asymptomatic screening designed to protect Florida’s senior population across 4,000 long-term care facilities spanning all 67 counties.

Discover More: ‍How Our Lab Partner Embraced Innovation and Won a Statewide Testing Contract

Since completing the Florida contract, Northwest Laboratory has remained a trusted testing partner, supporting multiple drive-through collection sites across several states. It has also collaborated with the Washington State Department of Corrections to oversee testing for both employees and incarcerated individuals. In addition, NWL provides organizational testing for employers, school districts/universities, long-term care facilities, and even the entertainment and production industries, among others.

To manage this growing testing workload and consistently deliver fast, accurate results, Northwest Laboratory relies on the flexible and comprehensive capabilities of the all-in-one LigoLab Medical LIS & Lab RCM Informatics Platform, combined with the streamlined workflows enabled by the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal.

Discover  More: How the Washington State Department of Corrections Manages its COVID-19 Organizational Testing Program

Fast, Reliable Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing at Scale

The results speak for themselves. During a recent 30-day period, Northwest Laboratory processed and reported nearly 180,000 COVID-19 test results, an impressive achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that over 98 percent of those results were delivered within 24 hours.

“We have a proven clinical lab workflow for high-throughput molecular testing, and we’re committed to a turnaround time of 24 hours from the moment we receive the specimens,” said Jennifer Bull, Chief Operating Officer at Northwest Laboratory. “You can rely on the result you receive from us.”

TestDirectly, a web-based diagnostic lab software solution that integrates seamlessly with an organization’s laboratory information system (LIS software), eliminates paper requisitions and minimizes manual entry, replacing them with a fully electronic workflow. This supports the entire case and specimen lifecycle, including patient self-registration and scheduling, specimen collection, laboratory processing, report delivery, and lab billing operations.

The portal also removes the burden of post-result follow-up by automatically notifying patients when their results are ready, while simultaneously enabling real-time monitoring and reporting for public health authorities.

Discover More: Highlighting the Versatility of the TestDirectly Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Portal

How TestDirectly Turns Medical Labs into Direct-to-Consumer Labs

The TestDirectly process begins when a patient visits the portal’s home page (TestDirectly.com) and creates an account. From there, the patient places a test order, schedules a collection appointment, and receives a unique QR code used for check-in at the collection site.

At the appointment, a simple scan of the QR code links the patient’s order to the specimen label, automatically printing and attaching the correct demographic information to the laboratory test kit.

“Thanks to self-registration, we already have the orders when the specimens arrive at our laboratory, so they go straight into processing,” said Bull.

This external efficiency, powered by TestDirectly, is mirrored internally by the robust and agile LigoLab informatics platform. LigoLab’s LIS system module supports advanced, time-saving workflows (such as batch scanning, plate mapping, rack scanning, and pooled testing), all tightly connected through its built-in interface engine.

White Paper: Comparing LigoLab Informatics Platform with Legacy Laboratory Information System Software

Leading a New Era of Scalable, Fast, and Efficient Laboratory Testing

Northwest Laboratory is not alone. Many other progressive testing organizations have adopted the LigoLab LIS software solution and the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal, enabling them to successfully process hundreds of thousands of tests per day, while still collectively averaging a 30-hour turnaround time.

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve learned a great deal: rapid, large-scale testing is critical; fast access to results is vital; and eliminating bottlenecks, such as manual order entry and post-result follow-up, is essential to meeting public demand. These challenges require modern, innovative clinical laboratory management software technologies rather than outdated, labor-intensive processes.

By addressing long-standing operational inefficiencies with advanced, scalable workflow automation and an integrated clinical and pathology lab management approach, Northwest Laboratory has set the standard for others, proving what’s possible when technology, strategy, and execution come together.

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Why Choose LigoLab’s Advanced LIS System and Laboratory Billing Solutions?

LigoLab is a nationally recognized LIS company and a leading developer of innovative end-to-end LIS laboratory information system software solutions. 

In Latin, Ligo means “to unite or to connect,” which is exactly what LigoLab flawlessly does for its laboratory customers, providing a modern lab information system platform that automates processes, eliminates human errors, drives efficiency, and helps them become more profitable.

To learn more about LigoLab's all-in-one medical LIS and lab RCM platform and its customizable modules and supporting engines, contact a LigoLab product specialist today. 

Act Now: CONTACT A LIGOLAB PRODUCT SPECIALIST!‍