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LIMS Courier Overview
The courier workflow enables sample collection away from the main laboratory — at a patient's home, a remote clinic, or a collecting centre that does not have a fixed phlebotomy setup. A courier (or mobile phlebotomist) visits the patient, collects the sample, prints barcode labels on-site, and then hands the sample to the main laboratory. The LIMS has a dedicated interface for couriers accessible from a mobile device or laptop.
| Role | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Courier / mobile phlebotomist | Collects the sample at the patient's location, labels the container, marks collection in the system |
| Lab reception staff | Receives the batch of samples handed over by the courier |
| Collecting centre staff | Can also fulfil the courier role for their centre's patients |
| Lab manager | Monitors courier performance via statistics |
Patient books a home visit or sample collection appointment
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Bill is raised (at the collecting centre or remotely) including home visit fee
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Courier travels to patient's location
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Courier opens the LIMS on a mobile device (courier interface)
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Courier scans or looks up the bill barcode
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Barcode stickers are printed on a portable label printer
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Sample is collected and labelled
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Collection is marked in the system
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Courier returns to the lab / drops samples at the collecting centre
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Courier records the handover to the lab in the system
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Lab receives and accepts the sample (standard reception workflow)
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Results processed and report approved
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Report printed at the collecting centre and given to the patient (or sent via SMS/email)
The LIMS courier interface is designed for use on a mobile device or tablet and is accessible from a browser. It provides a streamlined set of screens specifically for the courier's tasks:
- Collect Samples — find the bill, generate labels, mark collection.
- Hand Over Samples to Lab — record the transfer of samples to the laboratory.
- Print Reports — print approved reports for the patient at the collecting centre.
- View Reports — view approved reports for patients whose samples were handled by the courier.
- View Statistics — see a summary of the courier's activity.
Access the courier interface via: Menu > Collecting Centre > Courier (or as directed by your administrator).
| Equipment | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Smartphone or tablet | Access the LIMS courier interface via browser |
| Portable barcode scanner | Scan the bill barcode to look up the patient's order |
| Portable label printer | Print barcode stickers on-site at the patient's location |
| Sample collection kit | Tubes, needles, gloves, antiseptic, biohazard bags |
When a home visit is ordered, a home visit charge is added to the lab bill at the time of booking. This fee compensates the courier for the travel and collection service and is separate from the investigation fees.
See Laboratory Billing for how to add additional service charges, and Collecting Centre Billing for pricing and credit details.
- Collecting Samples (Courier) — step-by-step sample collection
- Handing Over Samples to the Lab — recording the handover
- Courier Report Printing & Viewing — printing approved reports