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hematologyanalyser.myby AA Alive Sdn Bhd
ENBM

Also called: Hematology analyzer LIS, Laboratory information system, Analyser connectivity

Connecting a Haematology Analyser to Your LIS or Clinic System

Typing FBC results by hand is slow and error-prone. How analyser connections work, the effort they take, and what to settle with the supplier before installation.

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Why connect the analyser

  • No transcription: typing twenty-odd numbers per FBC by hand is where errors creep in.
  • Results reach the doctor’s screen as soon as the run finishes.
  • Flags, histograms and QC can be stored with the result for later review.
  • Samples are matched to patients by barcode or sample ID, not by memory.
  • Records and billing stay in one system.

How analysers talk to other systems

Physical link

Older and compact analysers often use a serial (RS-232) port; newer ones use Ethernet (RJ45). A USB port is usually for export, printing or software updates rather than a live interface.

ASTM and HL7

Data follows a message standard. Many analysers use the ASTM protocol, now maintained by CLSI as LIS1 and LIS2; hospital systems commonly use HL7. Both ends must agree on the version and on how each field is mapped.

Middleware

Some labs place middleware between analysers and the LIS to translate formats, apply auto-verification rules and gather QC from several instruments in one place.

One-way or two-way (bidirectional)

One-way (unidirectional)Two-way (bidirectional)
What flowsResults from the analyser to the LISOrders from the LIS to the analyser, and results back
Sample identificationStaff type or scan the sample ID at the analyserThe analyser reads the tube barcode and asks the LIS what to run
Typical settingA single analyser in a clinicLabs with several tests or analysers
Set-up effortLowerHigher — order codes must be mapped both ways

Read next Setting up a clinic lab

Patient data and the PDPA

Health information is sensitive personal data under Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). Limit who can see results on the analyser and in the LIS, use individual logins where the software allows, protect any computer that holds results, and agree how exported files, printouts and backups are stored and disposed of. When an analyser is replaced or sent away for repair, make sure stored patient results are removed or protected.

What to settle with the supplier before installation

  • Which protocol and port the analyser uses, and whether your LIS or clinic management system already supports that model.
  • Who builds and tests the interface — the analyser supplier, the software vendor, or both — and who pays.
  • Whether interface fees are one-off or annual, and what happens when either system is upgraded.
  • Which parameters, flags, units and histograms transfer, and how they look in the patient record.
  • How samples are matched to patients: barcode labels, label printer and scanner.
  • Validation: compare the analyser’s printout with what arrived in the LIS for a set of patient samples before going live.
  • A fallback: printed results and manual entry with a second-person check when the link is down.

Read next Questions to ask every supplierComparing analyser quotes

Related guides

Haematology Analyser Brands in Malaysia and How to Compare ThemA neutral map of the brands Malaysian clinics and labs are offered, and the questions that matter more than the badge.Setting Up a Clinic Lab for an FBC MachineEverything to prepare before the analyser arrives — bench, power, tubes, waste, staff and records — so the first result on day one is a reliable one.Blood Test Machine for Clinic: Choosing a Hematology Analyzer for Your GP PracticeA practical decision guide for GP clinics weighing an in-house FBC against sending samples to an outside lab.

Hematology Analyser supply near you

Delivery, installation and training across Malaysia from Batu Caves, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a clinic analyser connect to my clinic management system?
Often, if the clinic software supports analyser interfaces and the protocol the analyser uses. Ask both vendors before you buy, because the interface is usually set up by them together.
What is the difference between ASTM and HL7?
Both are standards for laboratory data messages. Many analysers send results in ASTM format, while hospital systems commonly use HL7; middleware or the LIS can translate between them.
Do I need barcode labels for an FBC machine?
Not strictly, but barcodes prevent sample mix-ups and are needed for a two-way interface. Ask whether the analyser has a barcode reader and which label formats it reads.
What happens to results if the LIS link fails?
The analyser stores results internally and can print them. Keep a written procedure for manual entry with a second-person check until the link is restored.

Get a written quotation

Tell us your clinic or lab type, daily workload and location. We match suitable models and send a written quotation with delivery, installation and training spelled out.