Labs Glossary of Terms

Labs Glossary of Terms

TermDefinition
Case CoordinatorThe definition varies by school, but this person is usually someone given overall responsibility for an Accession. In terms of how Case Coordinators affect VetView, if one is designated on an Accession, it will go into the Review status upon finalization of all the Accession's tests. The Case Coordinator usually puts the accession in Finalized status after reading over and approving of it.
Receiving LabThe receiving lab is the one which receives the sample and owns the accession. This is sometimes distinguished from the Performing Lab if the receiving lab orders tests from another lab.
Performing LabThe performing lab is the one that performs the work associated with a test. This is sometimes distinguished from the Receiving Lab if the performing lab is not the one that owns the accession.
System MailThis is VetView mail which is generated by the system itself. An example is the automated message a Case Coordinator receives when someone other than him/her puts the accession into the Review Status.
User MailThis is VetView mail which originates from another VetView user (and not the system itself). An example would be if VetView user Pam went to the Mail Screen and addressed a message to VetView user Jim.
Working ListA named list of tests meant for using on the Result Entry Screen. This is one of the types of list that can be searched for and modified via the List Search Screen.
Worksheet

A named list of tests meant for using on the Worksheet Screen. This is one of the types of list that can be searched for and modified via the List Search Screen.

TestA single test performed on a specimen for an accession.  An accession can contain multiple specimens, and multiple tests can be performed against each specimen.  A test can be performed manually, or using a machine interface.
ResultA single outcome that can be associated with a test on an accession.  A result can be many different types - a date, a value list, a text box for entering a description. etc.  The accession report is built out of each test and its results.
Catalog ItemA bundle of any tests and their related charges that will be ordered and performed together.  A catalog item can contain multiple tests when the item will be ordered as a unit (e.g. a CBC with Diff may have multiple smaller tests linked to the Catalog Item.)  When your client orders work to be done from your lab, they are ordering the catalog item.  You can also customized how these items are displayed on your Portal.
ProductThe test charges and other fees that your lab will bill to clients when a catalog item includes them.  Products can also be associated directly to individual tests.  The Catalog Item will grab the charges associated with any of its tests, but also any special fees or other charges unique to that catalog item that you have set up and linked as products.
MethodFor machine interface tests, the Method is the specific machine type that you will used.  For example, a Heska machine, or Idexx.  If the work is outsourced to a separate external lab, that can also be created as a unique method.
PatternThe antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of a culture isolate.  For example, a Gram Positive pattern can include Amoxi/Clav, Ampicillan, Clindamycin, etc.  
IsolateBacteria isolated from a specimen (e.g., stool, blood, food).
CultureA growth of a specific isolate to be tested when a bacterial infection is suspected.
RequestAn accession request submitted from an outside client for work to be performed in the lab.  Requests can be received electronically from the Client Portal, or via VetView Hospital.   If a request is received on paper, it can go directly to accession receiving and skip the Request step, provided all the information necessary was sent with the specimen.
AccessionThe series of tests to be performed against the specimens included in a request.  An accession can support multiple patients, multiple specimens, and multiple tests for each specimen and patient.  Charges for the accession are calculated and billed when the results are finalized as a single invoice.  
Accession TagA unique tag added to an accession to allow for faster search results.  One example would be a Pooled Accession that has been split after a negative result  - the system can automatically tag these child accessions with  "Pool Untangle" to create a list of all clear child accessions from large batch testing.  Other accession tags can be applied manually, such as a BSE test. 
HoldIf an accession should not be completed yet, it can be placed in Hold status.  This could be due to awaiting a specimen, incomplete information from the referring lab, or delays in processing a test in that accession.
Reference NumberIn addition to the Accession Number and Specimen Number, you can add a reference number to an accession to allow for easier searching in the future.  
Accession HeaderThe client and billing information for an accession, separate from the test, patient, specimen, and results.    This information is created when the accession is made, but can be modified by an administrator while the accession is in Working status. 
PatientThe patient to which a specimen belongs.  An accession can have many patients, and each patient can have many tests.  
ClientAny owner, referring clinic, RDVM, outside lab, or other potential contact with a stake in an accession.    The Accession Header is where the primary clients are added to an accession.  Additional report contacts can be added to each accession if the data should be sent to other locations, such as a state reporting agency.
LabA Lab in VetView is a discrete entity within the system.  All tests are associated with specific labs, and clients are unique to each lab as well.  Personnel must be assigned to a lab to view and perform tests.  Labs thus act as a layer of security, to prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing another lab's tests and accessions.  This also keeps accounting and financial reporting separate between the units, and allows for custom communications to each lab's clients.
SpecimenA sample taken from a patient upon which tests will be performed.  Specimens contain the type of sample, the date it was collected, and the container.  Specimens can also be tracked by locations.  Multiple tests can be performed against a single specimen.
Performing LabThe lab that actually performs work requested to a parent lab.   For example, if your Histology department is considered a separate lab, any histology request sent to a parent lab will be assigned to that lab in VetView.  This allows you to keep your requests channeled to a single parent lab, but still keep the accessions and finances of each department separated.
Bill PartyThe client who will be billed the charges for the accession.  In most cases, this will be the requesting clinic or RDVM, but this can be adjusted depending on your lab's policies.
Additional ContactBeyond the client contacts in the Accession Header, you can specify additional clients who should receive a copy of the finalized report, such as a state reporting agency. 
Accession TemplateFor tests that frequently come from one specific referring clinic or outside lab, you can create an Accession Template to save and reuse.  This speeds up the process of bulk creation of accessions. 
Request StatusAfter a Request is submitted, it will be in New status.   If there is a problem with the request, it will automatically go into Error status.  If the Request cannot be performed, it can be Rejected.  Once a request is Accepted, it creates an Accession and links to the original Request in the background.  If a Request was submitted in error, it can be Deleted.
Accession StatusWhen a request s Accepted, the Accession is created in New status.  New accessions can also be made without a request.  An Accession, once Released, goes into Working status.  Results and charges can be added in this status.  When it is ready to be reviewed by a case coordinator, it can be set to Preliminary status.  Once the accession has been reviewed and completed it is set to Finalized status.
PortalThe Lab Client Portal is the outside interface for RDVMs and referring clinics to submit Requests, view the Catalog of available tests, and view the status of previously submitted requests.  Depending on your lab's policies, you can also accept payments on the Portal.
PlaceholderA string of text surrounded by brackets that pulls in the matching information from the Accession.  Placeholders can be used in conjunction with Macros to re-use a common block of text without having to manually customize it with patient or accession information.
Pool SpecimensFor batch testing, an accession can be created as a Pool Parent, and other accessions linked to it as Pool Children.  The children will automatically inherit the status of the pool parent when it is finalized. 

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