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

Editor’s Note: The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed how medical laboratories operate. It accelerated digital transformation, highlighted the importance of scalable laboratory informatics, and reinforced the need for laboratories to be prepared for future public health emergencies.

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

At LigoLab, supporting our laboratory partners throughout the pandemic meant rapidly delivering new laboratory information system (LIS) capabilities, laboratory revenue cycle management (RCM) enhancements, and direct-to-consumer lab testing workflows that helped labs expand capacity, maintain fast turnaround times, and continue delivering exceptional patient care.

Just as important was documenting the remarkable work our customers accomplished under extraordinary circumstances.

The following case study, originally published on November 4, 2020, highlights how Avero Diagnostics (formerly Northwest Laboratory) rapidly scaled high-volume COVID-19 testing while consistently delivering 24-hour turnaround times. Their story remains a powerful example of how the right technology platform and operational strategy can help laboratories respond to unexpected challenges while preparing for the future.

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 laboratory information system 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 revenue cycle management.

This case study examines how Northwest Laboratory scaled its operations to support more than 4,000 long-term care facilities in Florida, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and numerous other high-volume testing programs. 

By leveraging LigoLab's laboratory information system software and the innovative TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal, Northwest has processed over 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, which supports batch scanning, plate mapping, rack scanning, and pooled testing workflows.

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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 details how NWL secured a statewide COVID-19 testing contract with the Florida Department of Health during 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

Following the successful completion of its Florida testing contract, Northwest Laboratory expanded its role as a trusted partner for diagnostic testing. Today, the laboratory supports drive-through collection sites across multiple states, provides testing for the Washington State Department of Corrections, and serves a broad range of organizations, including employers, school districts, universities, long-term care facilities, and the entertainment and production industries. 

To manage this growing workload and consistently deliver fast, accurate results, Northwest Laboratory relies on the flexible and comprehensive capabilities of LigoLab’s all-in-one Medical LIS & Lab Billing 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, with the LIS system module supporting advanced, time-saving workflows (such as batch scanning, plate mapping, rack scanning, and pooled testing), all tightly connected through its built-in interface engine.

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

Northwest Laboratory is not alone. Many other progressive testing organizations have adopted LigoLab’s laboratory information system software 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 technologies rather than outdated, labor-intensive processes.

By addressing long-standing operational inefficiencies with advanced, scalable clinical lab workflow automation, 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 Lab Information 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 does for its customers: providing a modern lab information system platform with embedded lab revenue cycle management that automates processes, eliminates human error, drives efficiency, and helps them become more profitable.

Ready to Modernize Your Clinical Lab Workflow?

Northwest Laboratory's success shows what's possible when the right laboratory information system and direct-to-consumer lab testing tools come together. If your lab is ready to improve turnaround times, reduce manual bottlenecks, and scale testing operations efficiently, LigoLab can help.

Act Now: Contact A LigoLab Product Specialist!

Frequently Asked Questions About Northwest Laboratory's COVID-19 Testing Program

How fast were Northwest Laboratory's COVID-19 test results?

Northwest Laboratory (now Avero Diagnostics) was committed to a 24-hour turnaround time from specimen receipt, delivering over 98% of results to patients within that window.

How many COVID-19 tests did Northwest Laboratory process?

Northwest Laboratory has processed over 1.5 million COVID-19 tests since the start of the pandemic, including nearly 180,000 results during a single recent 30-day period.

What laboratory information system did Northwest Laboratory use?

Northwest Laboratory relied on LigoLab’s Medical LIS & Lab Billing Informatics Platform, paired with the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal, to manage its entire testing workflow.

What is TestDirectly, and how does it work?

TestDirectly is a web-based diagnostic lab software solution that lets patients self-register, schedule collection appointments, and receive a unique QR code for check-in. The portal eliminates paper requisitions and manual entry, streamlining the process from order to result delivery.

Who did Northwest Laboratory provide COVID-19 testing services for?

Northwest Laboratory provided testing services for more than 4,000 long-term care facilities throughout Florida, as well as the Washington State Department of Corrections, employers, school districts, universities, and organizations in the entertainment and production industries. 

What technology features helped Northwest Laboratory scale its testing operations?

Key capabilities included patient self-registration, unique QR codes linked to individual specimens, and molecular lab software supporting batch scanning, plate mapping, rack scanning, and pooled testing workflows.‍