Remembering COVID: TestDirectly Eliminates the Paper Requisitions That Cause Accessioning Headaches

Editor’s Note: On May 11, 2023, the World Health Organization officially declared an end to the global COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. While much of the world has moved forward, those in healthcare, especially within laboratory operations and laboratory information system software, must continue to reflect on the hard-earned lessons and remain vigilant against future threats of infectious disease.

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

At LigoLab, our priority throughout the pandemic was clear: support our laboratory partners in every way possible. We responded quickly with advanced LIS software and direct-to-consumer lab testing solutions tailored to meet the unprecedented demands of the crisis. These pathology lab software tools helped streamline workflows, protect patient care, and reinforce diagnostic operations during a time of great uncertainty.

What stood out most during that period was the resilience and dedication of our lab partners. As we reflect on their remarkable efforts, we’re reminded of many defining moments, like the one highlighted here, that underscore COVID-19’s lasting impact and the critical role that modern LIS pathology technology continues to play in public health preparedness.

Scaling COVID-19 Testing: Why Electronic Workflows Are Key to Speed and Volume

Los Angeles, CA, October 7, 2020 - The public is calling for it, and the healthcare system depends on it: expanded COVID-19 testing capacity with faster turnaround times. 

Meeting this demand takes more than a reliable supply chain; the capability to process high test volumes efficiently and deliver results quickly is also required.

“The manual order entry bottleneck becomes a serious issue once a lab processes more than 500 samples a day,” said LigoLab CEO Suren Avunjian. “Hiring more data entry staff isn’t sustainable. The best diagnostic lab software solution is eliminating paper requisitions and implementing an electronic clinical lab workflow that begins with patient self-registration and supports the entire case lifecycle.”

That solution is TestDirectly, LigoLab’s direct-to-consumer lab testing portal. 

Launched in spring 2020 as part of the fully integrated LigoLab Medical LIS & Lab RCM Informatics Platform, TestDirectly was purpose-built to help clinical and molecular laboratories scale efficiently. The portal boosts throughput and speeds result delivery by digitizing patient intake and reporting—all while maintaining accuracy and control.

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

‍TestDirectly: A Scalable, LIS System Agnostic Portal That Eliminates Bottlenecks and Delivers Results Fast

“Our portal is LIS system agnostic and can be seamlessly integrated with any LIS healthcare solution to eliminate paperwork, manual processes, and data entry errors that often delay reporting,” said Avunjian. “It’s a powerful clinical laboratory management platform currently managing over 100,000 accessions and reports per day. It also removes the need for follow-up, as results are automatically delivered to patients, providers, organizations, and public health agencies within minutes of being released.”

TestDirectly is a web-based solution accessible via smartphone, tablet, or desktop that creates direct-to-consumer labs. It supports all types of collection workflows—including drive-through, walk-up, and organizational testing—and includes batch accessioning and batch reporting functionality to maximize efficiency.

Streamlined Accessioning Begins with Patient Self-Registration

The accessioning process begins when a patient creates an account using an email address at TestDirectly.com. From there, the patient can locate a nearby collection site, schedule an appointment, enter demographic and laboratory billing information (which can be verified or charged immediately), complete required order entry questions, accept terms, and place the order.

Once the order is submitted, TestDirectly generates an electronic requisition with a unique barcode. The patient receives a confirmation via email and/or text, including the same barcode, which is presented at the collection site during check-in.

At the time of collection, the TestDirectly platform can generate a unique specimen label—or, if pre-printed barcodes are used, it can seamlessly match the order to the specimen without the need for on-site printers. 

When the specimen arrives at the lab, staff scan the barcode for check-in, and the sample is immediately routed for processing, eliminating delays and ensuring a fast and efficient lab workflow.

Case Study: How Our Lab Partner Embraced Laboratory Information System Innovation and Won a Statewide Testing Contract

Eliminating Bottlenecks with a Fully Digital, End-to-End Workflow

“The electronic clinical lab workflow that begins with patient self-registration continues seamlessly through the collection site and the laboratory—eliminating hours of manual data entry and removing a major bottleneck that often delays turnaround time and introduces errors,” said Avunjian.

Once TestDirectly results time is verified, consumer lab reports are automatically generated in the LIS system and delivered directly to the TestDirectly portal. Patients receive instant notifications when results are available and can access them immediately.

The portal also provides real-time result access, prevalence tracking, and traceability tools, empowering providers and public health agencies to take swift action when positive cases are detected.

By connecting patients, labs, providers, organizations, and government agencies, the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal removes barriers while supporting a streamlined, secure, and scalable pathology software solution for COVID-19 testing and reporting.

Ready to streamline your lab's testing and reporting process with TestDirectly?

Speak with a product specialist today to see how the diagnostic lab software platform can help you scale, save time, and improve patient satisfaction.

On-Demand Webinar: Learn How to Expand Your Lab’s Services and Add Revenue with Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing

LigoLab: Your All-in-One Pathology Lab Software Partner for Efficiency, Growth, and Compliance

LigoLab is a trusted leader in pathology lab software, offering an enterprise-grade informatics platform that seamlessly integrates laboratory information system (LIS software) and lab revenue cycle management (lab RCM) functionality. Purpose-built for clinical, molecular, and anatomic pathology laboratories, the LigoLab platform helps labs operate with greater efficiency, scale with ease, and deliver outstanding service in an increasingly competitive healthcare environment.

What truly sets LigoLab apart is its all-in-one LIS healthcare architecture. Unlike LIS software vendors that offer fragmented systems requiring costly integrations, LigoLab unifies medical LIS and lab RCM processes within a single platform. This ensures end-to-end data consistency, real-time automation, and full workflow transparency—eliminating data silos, reducing manual errors, and improving both operational and financial performance.

LigoLab’s advantage also stems from its team’s real-world lab experience. Many employees come from laboratory backgrounds and have deep insight into the daily challenges labs face. That experience shapes an intuitive user interface, streamlined implementation process, and responsive support that speaks the language of the lab.

White Paper: How LigoLab Delivers CIO-Level Insight Through Real-World Lab Experience

To further support its partners, LigoLab offers clear and flexible pricing tiers, unlimited user licenses and support, and free LIS software upgrades, making it more than just a vendor, but a long-term ally in modernization and growth.

Learn More: LigoLab Informatics Platform - Uniquely Designed to Deliver Maximum Value

For laboratories ready to move beyond outdated laboratory information systems and disjointed workflows, LigoLab provides a future-ready LIS lab solution that delivers measurable results in efficiency, compliance, and revenue optimization.