Questions All Pathology Labs Should Ask When Evaluating LIS Software and Support

Is your laboratory information system (LIS software) holding your clinical laboratory or pathology practice back from achieving the efficiency, productivity, and agility you need to compete?

Are you constrained by an inflexible medical LIS that lacks modern features, making it increasingly difficult to stay current in a rapidly evolving diagnostics landscape? 

Do you recognize the need for a more advanced clinical and pathology lab management system to protect your business from growing operational and financial pressures, but are hesitant to move forward with a new LIS software implementation due to perceived disruption and risk?

Are you frustrated with leading laboratory information system companies that seem more focused on charging fees for minor report changes or configuration updates than on supporting your long-term success?

If yes to what’s been mentioned above, you’re not alone. These challenges are common among lab directors and managers who rely on legacy clinical and pathology LIS systems that are rigid, outdated diagnostic lab software platforms that quietly drain resources, limit growth, and erode opportunities.

Discover More: Boosting Operational Efficiency: How LigoLab Transforms Laboratory Workflows

No More Compromises: Modern Laboratory Information System Platforms Are Built to Adapt and Empower

Today's laboratory information systems are highly adaptable, configurable platforms designed to fundamentally improve how clinical laboratories and pathology practices operate, scale, and compete. Lab leaders no longer need to settle for second best.

Below, we address the most frequently asked questions of our LIS company during interactive medical laboratory information system demonstrations with potential customers, as well as through LigoLab resources such as webinars, case studies, white papers, and industry surveys.

Discover More: Stability and Performance - The Two Most Important Aspects of a Modern Laboratory Operation

What the Best Laboratory Information System Software Vendors Offer to Their Customers

At LigoLab, delivering exceptional laboratory information systems and outstanding customer service is not an initiative; it’s embedded in our company's DNA. We focus on building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with our customers, a commitment that truly sets us apart from traditional LIS system vendors.

Our team works relentlessly to unlock each customer's full potential because we view every interaction as an investment in both our partner laboratories and the continued success of our LIS company.

A Partnership Built on Aligned Risk and Reward

This philosophy goes beyond marketing language; it is a financial reality. LigoLab shares in the risk and responsibility of a successful LIS system implementation and remains directly invested in each customer's ongoing growth through an aligned, risk-reward LIS model.

Our tiered LIS medical platform pricing is designed to help laboratories scale faster. We have real skin in the game and are fully motivated to ensure your success.

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

The Timing Is Right to Choose the Best LIS System for Your Laboratory

If upgrading your medical LIS system is a priority, there has never been a better time to evaluate your options. 

We invite you to compare our lab information system platform with what you have seen and heard from other LIS vendors, so you can make a confident, informed decision and select the best LIS that aligns with your laboratory's goals, workflows, and growth strategy.

Discover More: Best Pathology Lab Reporting Software - Buyer's Guide and Checklist

Comparing the Services of Laboratory Information System Vendors

When comparing LIS software solutions and implementation approaches, selecting a partner with a clear, well-defined plan for every stage, from onboarding and go-live to long-term support, is essential.

Without dedicated guidance and a true partnership, laboratories often struggle to achieve sustainable operational efficiency and profitability. 

With the LigoLab Informatics Platform, you can confidently answer "yes" to every critical question below. 

Discover More: Navigating the Future of Pathology - The LigoLab Advantage

Important Service-Oriented FAQs for Leading Laboratory Information System Companies

Demonstrations and Implementation Planning

• Does the laboratory information system provider offer comprehensive demonstrations, either online or on-site?
• Does the LIS lab vendor provide a detailed implementation project plan that includes processes for project teams, timelines, deliverables, and risk and issue management?
• Does the LIS company clearly explain its overall implementation methodology, expected deliverables, timelines, constraints, and success criteria?

Pricing and Resource Transparency

• Does the LIS lab provider present transparent and reliable cost estimates and pricing schedules that fully account for all products and services within scope?
• Does the LIS system vendor outline the total time commitment and internal staff resources required from the laboratory throughout implementation?

Maintenance, Support, and Go-Live Coverage

• Can the company clearly define its maintenance and support LIS model, including availability, escalation paths, and issue management?
• Does the LIS lab vendor provide a clearly defined implementation support schedule, including available support tiers, their roles, and hours of availability?
• Does the lab information system provider offer dedicated support during the critical go-live phase, between system validation and full deployment, before the standard maintenance and support agreement officially begins?

Post-Implementation Accountability

• Does the LIS vendor perform a post-installation gap analysis to identify any remaining deliverables, open items, or outstanding tasks following the initial setup?
• Does the LIS lab provider supply a clear deliverables matrix that maps each project deliverable to the corresponding user requirement specification it satisfies?

Training and Documentation

• Does the LIS software vendor follow a standardized, repeatable training methodology for onboarding and educating new users?
• Does the LIS software provider offer structured, LIS-specific training curricula tailored to different user roles and workflows?
• Does the LIS software include comprehensive documentation for users, administrators, developers, installation teams, and system reference needs?
• Does the LIS lab vendor provide detailed documentation covering system architecture, installation procedures, operational workflows, and performance validation?

Source Code and Test Code Governance

• Does the LIS software provider offer access to source code, or clearly define ownership, availability, and governance of the LIS system's underlying codebase?
• Does the LIS lab provider offer an optional, comprehensive library of test codes that the laboratory can readily adopt and configure for its operational needs?

Industry Insights: Best LIS Systems - Top Laboratory Information Systems Compared for Clinical, Pathology, and Outreach Labs

What to Expect From a LigoLab LIS System Implementation

Dedicated Support From Day One Through Go-Live

From day one, your laboratory is assigned a dedicated implementation specialist who works closely with your team and guides every phase of the process. This specialist is available during business hours by phone and email, and outside of normal hours when needed, serving as your primary point of contact and escalating issues to management as required.

Seamless Transition to Ongoing Support

Following a successful go-live, your laboratory continues to meet regularly with the implementation specialist to ensure all critical items are fully resolved. Once implementation milestones are complete, your lab transitions seamlessly to LigoLab's dedicated support team, available 24/7, including nights and weekends, to provide ongoing assistance by phone and email, ensuring operations run smoothly.

Training, Documentation, and Source Code Protection

LigoLab grants new clients with a dedicated video-based training platform, complemented by a comprehensive user manual built directly into the laboratory information system for easy, on-demand access. Additionally, LigoLab safeguards customer investments by placing the LIS source code with a trusted third-party escrow provider.

Discover More: LigoLab’s Approach to LIS System Implementation and Support

The Best Laboratory Information System Software Supported by Best-in-Class Personnel 

The level of support provided by the best laboratory information system vendors is just as critical as the LIS software itself. Asking the right questions upfront will ensure you clearly understand the support your laboratory will receive long after the medical LIS agreement is signed.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you have additional questions after reviewing the FAQs in this post, or would like to speak directly with a laboratory information system product specialist about the LigoLab platform, schedule an introductory call today.

Act Now: Connect with a LigoLab Product Specialist!

Frequently Asked Questions About Evaluating Laboratory Information System Software Vendors and Support Models

Why is vendor support just as important as LIS software functionality when selecting a new system?

Laboratory information systems are mission-critical infrastructure, and how a vendor supports the lab through implementation, go-live, and ongoing operations determines whether the investment delivers its full potential value. A feature-rich LIS system that is poorly implemented, inadequately trained, or supported by unresponsive staff can be more disruptive than the legacy LIS system it replaced. Labs should evaluate vendor support as rigorously as they evaluate software features.

What is the most important question to ask a LIS vendor about their implementation process?

The single most important question is whether the vendor provides a dedicated implementation specialist, with clearly defined availability, escalation paths, and milestone accountability, from kickoff through go-live and into the transition to ongoing support. Labs should also ask whether the vendor offers dedicated coverage during the critical period between system validation and full go-live, when issues are most likely to surface.

What should labs look for in a LIS vendor's training methodology?

Labs should confirm that the vendor follows a standardized, repeatable training methodology that is role-specific, meaning separate curricula exist for pathologists, lab technicians, laboratory billing staff, IT administrators, and outreach users. The vendor should also provide a comprehensive user manual accessible directly within the LIS system, supplemented by video-based training resources that enable staff to learn at their own pace and revisit material as needed.

Why is pricing transparency such a critical question during the LIS system evaluation process?

Many LIS system vendors present attractive initial price points during the sales process, but add high costs during implementation and operation through per-seat charges, per-module fees, configuration request fees, support tier upgrades, and annual maintenance escalations. Labs should request a complete, itemized pricing schedule covering all products and services within scope, and ask specifically about costs for configuration changes, additional interfaces, custom report templates, support requests, and software upgrades.

What is a deliverables matrix, and why should labs ask for one?

A deliverables matrix is a document that maps each project deliverable to the specific user requirement it is designed to satisfy, providing clear accountability and making it easy to verify at each project milestone that the vendor has delivered exactly what was promised. Without a deliverables matrix, labs have no structured way to confirm that implementation is progressing according to the agreed scope and timeline.

What does a post-installation gap analysis involve, and why is it important?

A post-installation gap analysis is a structured review conducted after initial setup that identifies any remaining deliverables, open items, or outstanding tasks that have not yet been completed to the lab's satisfaction. This process ensures that no configuration gaps or unresolved issues carry over into live operations, and that both the lab and the vendor have a shared, documented understanding of what remains to be addressed before the lab transitions to standard support.

How does LigoLab's aligned pricing model make it a more invested implementation partner?

LigoLab's tiered, volume-based pricing model means the company's revenue scales with the lab's testing volume, rather than being collected upfront through large licensing fees regardless of whether the implementation succeeds. This creates a genuine alignment of incentives: LigoLab only grows financially when its lab partners grow operationally. The result is a vendor that is directly motivated to ensure every implementation succeeds, every support issue is resolved promptly, and every lab partner reaches its full potential.