I have been studying about Abbott analyzers and came through ASTM protocol. I do not understand thought the exact process: 1)Is the "middleware/host" sending orders to the analyzer when a person visits the laboratory and requests to do some tests and prints a barcode which is being sticked to the speciment container so when the analyzer scans the barcode it knows already what orders to execute or 2)The laboratory software only creates a barcode and saves in a database the required tests and then the analyzer sends queries to the middleware/host to ask for this specific barcode what orders to execute?
When the analyzer scans the barcode, will it already have the orders in the memory or it will send queries to the middleware/host to ask for orders?
In general, there are 2 main types of LIS interfaces:
Bi-directional - communication both ways. LIS can push the orders to the instrument or drop them on a 3rd party communication card (Data Innovations). Instruments can then compare a scanned barcode within its memory or query the card/LIS. Instruments can push the test results to the card/LIS when completed.
Uni-directional - communication 1 way.
a - Instrument only receives orders from LIS. User required to type results into LIS.
b - Instrument only sends results to LIS. User required to put specimen in a tray position dictated by the LIS or barcode the sample.
For Abbott instruments you would need to provide a model # to know what interface options are available.