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Six Factors That Should Be Considered Before Upgrading Your Lab's Pathology Reporting Software
August 29, 2025
It’s often said that the laboratory report is the lab’s calling card; therefore, the performance of the pathology reporting software should be a priority for any lab leader seeking a new laboratory information system (LIS) software.
Questions about LigoLab’s LIS pathology reporting capabilities arise in nearly every laboratory information system demonstration, underscoring the indispensable nature of advanced LIS medical software solutions for the diagnostic laboratory industry.
Because of this, we’ve compiled a list of six factors that should always be considered when speaking with laboratory information system companies (LIS software vendors) about their pathology reporting software capabilities.
Discover More: Best Pathology Lab Reporting Software - Buyers Guide and Checklist
Laboratory Information Systems and Interoperability
It doesn’t matter how good the report looks if no one can see it.
To ensure client satisfaction, choose a lab information system with an open architecture and a robust interface engine. Both are needed for connectivity with a wide range of electronic health record (EHR) systems and laboratory billing services used by hospitals and health systems. For example, the best LIS software solutions support a variety of formats, including HL7, PDF, and XML.
What the report looks like on the receiving end is critically important, so it’s necessary for reports transferred from the lab information system to the EHR to be formatted correctly.
When evaluating a laboratory information system, confirm that it supports embedded PDFs, hyperlinks, and attachments within the transmitted message.
Discover More: Stability and Performance: The Two Most Important Aspects of a Modern Laboratory Operation
Laboratory Information Systems and Flexibility
Don't spend all of the time and resources that go into implementing a new laboratory information system software without first learning how flexible that LIS system is.
Does the medical LIS allow you to design fully customizable report templates, down to the pixel?
Can the LIS lab solution build templates for co-branding opportunities with clients?
Can the LIS system deliver more value for clients through personalization and saved preferences?
When evaluating laboratory information system vendors, ask whether their platform supports customizable lab reports. If the answer is yes, confirm that they also provide training so your team can update templates in-house without additional costs.
Determine whether the LIS system can generate personalized patient reports, host them on a secure patient portal (such as for direct-to-consumer lab testing), and send critical results to providers via SMS, fax, or other channels.
Modern pathology LIS systems should offer template-driven reports with rich text, full-color graphics, diagrams, and embedded images, all pre-licensed and preloaded into the application. These capabilities distinguish advanced pathology lab reporting software solutions from more limited LIS software options on the market.
Discover More: What to Look Out for and Avoid When Shopping for a New LIS System
Laboratory Information Systems and Configurability
We've addressed template flexibility. Now let’s focus on configurability.
The configurability within the LIS system software is just as important as template flexibility. Be sure to ask the LIS software vendors you are speaking with if their templating engine is embedded in the lab information system or if it’s a stand-alone software (like Crystal Reports).
When evaluating advanced LIS systems, confirm that the solution you’re reviewing supports macros, can pull in any discrete field from the LIS software, and allows conditional rules to be applied directly within report templates.
These questions are often overlooked, and some laboratory information system companies may not have this level of configurability.
Ask the questions now, rather than six months after selecting an LIS software partner, so your lab doesn’t get stuck with an expensive development charge, or even worse, be told by the LIS company that their pathology lab management software can’t accommodate your needs.
Can reports include attachments such as images and diagrams? Can they be annotated? These are critical considerations when selecting a laboratory information system, both for meeting your lab’s needs today and ensuring long-term flexibility.
Discover More: How LigoLab's Pathology Lab Software Supports Lab Report Customization and Client Preferences
Laboratory Information Systems and Integrated Reporting Functionality
Can the laboratory information system you’re evaluating automatically pull the results of multiple tests across multiple departments into one well-organized and easy-to-read lab report summary?
Integrated LIS system reporting capabilities beat the time-consuming and error-prone alternative of having a pathologist manually compile all the data into a Word document.
For example, it can take 20 minutes for a pathologist to assemble a Hemepath report using traditional tools, but why do that when the best LIS software platforms automatically build the report as soon as the case is opened, pulling in CBC results, Flow Cytometry Interpretation, and Final Dx from the Surgical report, as an example.
Discover More: How LIS Software Helps Pathologists Sign-Out Anatomic Pathology Cases Faster
Laboratory Information Systems and Decision-Support Functionality
Many modern clinical labs and pathology groups are incorporating decision support systems and best practice protocols into their reports to enhance their value and improve care.
These risk assessment tools help caregivers quickly filter through data and serve as a guide for the patient and the next steps in care.
As the healthcare industry continues to move toward value-based care and away from fee-for-service, modern medical laboratory information systems with decision-support functionality can create added value for the lab.
Ask the LIS company you’re speaking with if their laboratory information system and its reporting engine have decision-support functionality.
Laboratory Information Systems and Distribution
Now let’s focus on one of the most important laboratory information system functions: distribution.
What good are aesthetically pleasing lab reports if the LIS systems and laboratory information system companies producing them can’t effectively distribute them?
Can the LIS system automatically distribute reports through an outreach module?
Does it support report delivery through email, fax, provider and patient web portals, remote and local printers, and SMS?
Except for smoke signals, the LIS company you choose should facilitate delivery to your clients with ease.
Discover More: LigoLab’s Provider Portal Facilitates Faster Order Processing and Improved Turnaround Times
The Best Laboratory Information System Vendors Have Mastered Lab Reports
The LigoLab Medical LIS & Lab RCM Informatics Platform is a great example of LIS software vendors who’ve listened to lab clients and delivered the most flexible and configurable laboratory information system platform compared to its legacy pathology lab software competitors. LigoLab demonstrates this with its fully customizable report templates.
The LIS system’s reporting and distribution engines drive the reporting process by creating reports that consolidate and augment test results with rich text formatting, images, and cumulative charts. Once finalized, the reports are distributed automatically (through every channel available).
Thanks to end-to-end support, LigoLab’s clients gain the freedom to create the reports they desire, and the deep domain expertise and best practices that come with laboratory information system software developed by and for pathologists and laboratorians since 2006.
Is the LIS system in your lab holding it back?
Tired of common pain points like a lack of laboratory information system functions and challenges such as shrinking reimbursements, high denial rates, increased government regulations, and a lack of skilled technicians?
Looking for a better, more efficient way to control costs, increase revenue, and scale your medical laboratory?
The LigoLab platform can help transform your lab with the modern features and functionality that you desire.
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