Remembering COVID: TestDirectly Simplifies Workflows and Improves Turnaround Times

The COVID-19 pandemic offered powerful lessons in resilience, innovation, and preparedness for medical laboratory information system (LIS) software providers and the medical laboratories they support. Looking ahead, the shared responsibility is to continue prioritizing adaptability, technology advancement, collaboration, and workforce well-being to build on these experiences and strengthen the future of laboratory medicine.

By applying these insights, LIS system vendors and laboratory professionals can better navigate future public health challenges while continuing to deliver high-quality patient care.

With this perspective in mind, let’s reflect on the experiences of laboratory professionals during the pandemic. As we revisit the impact of COVID-19, it is equally important to highlight the positive stories and lasting lessons that emerged from this unprecedented global event.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on September 8, 2020.

TestDirectly’s Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Innovations and Direct-to-Consumer Labs

‍Los Angeles, CA - Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, laboratory directors and managers nationwide have been focused on simplifying clinical laboratory management and accelerating test turnaround times to meet the rising demand for COVID-19 direct-to-consumer lab testing. In response, they have explored innovative diagnostic lab software strategies to expand capacity, eliminate testing backlogs, transition away from paper-based requisitions, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen patient follow-up processes.

Discover More: Streamline Laboratory Workflow Management With Customized Lab Reports & Unmatched Client Support

Enabling Fast, Scalable Molecular LIS Testing with TestDirectly

With the launch of LigoLab’s TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal, medical laboratories gained a purpose-built molecular lab software solution designed to overcome many of the operational challenges exposed during the pandemic.

“TestDirectly, our direct-to-consumer lab testing platform, was built to eliminate barriers that cause reporting delays and to free laboratories from the time-intensive burden of manual order entry and case follow-up,” said Suren Avunjian, CEO of LigoLab. He noted that the LIS company developed and brought TestDirectly to market just as the disruptive effects of COVID-19 began to take shape.

“The TestDirectly portal seamlessly connects laboratories and collection centers with patients, government agencies, employers, and physicians to support fast, secure COVID-19 testing,” Avunjian added. “Results are delivered directly to patients and providers within minutes of instrument release through consumer-friendly lab reports. In addition, administrative portals allow test results and prevalence data to be securely monitored in real time, supporting rapid isolation of positive cases and helping prevent outbreaks.”

Case Study: Leading Molecular LIS Lab Teams with TestDirectly to Provide State-Wide COVID-19 School Surveillance Testing

TestDirectly and Direct-to-Consumer Labs  

The TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal can be rapidly deployed to integrate with existing LIS laboratory information system software, laboratory billing solutions, and testing instruments. Once implemented, it replaces manual processes with a fully electronic clinical lab workflow that begins when a patient self-registers for testing on any computer or mobile device.

From there, the streamlined lab workflow created by TestDirectly manages every step of the testing lifecycle, including appointment scheduling at collection sites, specimen collection, results reporting, and secure distribution of consumer lab reports. This end-to-end efficiency delivers the speed and reliability required for patients, providers, and public health officials to act quickly and help control the spread of infectious disease.

Case Study: How TestDirectly Results Helped DuPage County Create a More Efficient COVID-19 Drive-Through

Eliminating Bottlenecks with a Fully Electronic Testing Workflow

TestDirectly eliminates common laboratory bottlenecks caused by manual entry of patient data from paper requisitions into LIS software, a time-consuming process prone to data entry errors. Removing this step represents a significant operational improvement for direct-to-consumer labs seeking greater speed and accuracy.

By transitioning to an electronic clinical lab workflow that supports remote patient self-registration and contactless, paperless drive-through, onsite, or dispatched specimen collection, laboratories can save substantial time. Specimens arrive pre-associated with electronic orders, allowing staff to scan them in immediately and move them directly into processing, thereby accelerating turnaround times while reducing errors and administrative burden.

Discover More: LigoLab’s Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Portal - An Innovative Molecular LIS Solution for an Industry-Wide Problem

Rapid Results Delivery with Seamless Patient Access

Once test results are finalized and verified, consumer lab reports are automatically generated within the lab’s LIS system and immediately delivered to the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer testing portal. Patients are then promptly notified that their results are available and can securely review them by logging into the reports section at TestDirectly.com.

From specimen collection to final reporting, most patients receive their results within 48 hours. No additional laboratory follow-up is required, and public health officials monitoring the data can take immediate action when positive cases are identified, supporting faster response and more effective outbreak control.

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

TestDirectly: A Better Way to Collect, Process, and Report COVID-19 Tests‍

The TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal integrates seamlessly with all LIS system software, enabling laboratories to transition quickly to a fully electronic clinical workflow. Eliminating manual order entry reduces data entry errors and removes one of the most common operational bottlenecks.

Designed to support drive-through and on-site specimen collection, TestDirectly simplifies patient data capture, accelerates report delivery, and streamlines follow-up. The result is increased testing capacity, faster turnaround times, and a more efficient laboratory operation.

Learn more by exploring the TestDirectly and TestDirectly.com product overview.

Product Overview: Highlighting the Versatility of the TestDirectly Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Portal‍‍‍

LigoLab: Innovative and Scalable Pathology Lab Software Solutions

Derived from the Latin word ligo, meaning “to unite,” LigoLab has brought unity to the operations for hundreds of laboratory clients nationwide. The enterprise pathology lab software company delivers a comprehensive, all-in-one medical LIS & lab billing informatics platform that seamlessly integrates anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, and laboratory revenue cycle management modules on a single, unified LIS software infrastructure.

Discover More: Clinical Laboratory Management Solutions for Lab Revenue Cycle Management (Lab RCM)

End-to-End Data Integrity with a True LIS System Partner

With LigoLab, laboratories gain complete end-to-end data integrity and a trusted pathology lab management partner that assumes full responsibility for all LIS needs, eliminating synchronization issues, middleware dependencies, vendor finger-pointing, and unnecessary complexity.

Transitioning away from a legacy or outdated laboratory information system is a significant decision. LigoLab simplifies that transition by delivering a future-ready LIS software platform that supports the entire specimen lifecycle, aligns pricing with laboratory growth objectives, and minimizes operational disruption during implementation.

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

One platform. One database. One trusted partner.

See how LigoLab unites all operational and lab billing workflows into a single, future-ready LIS software informatics platform.

Act Now: Speak with a LigoLab Product Specialist!‍‍