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LIMS TAT and Workload Reports
Turnaround Time (TAT) is one of the most important quality indicators in a clinical laboratory. It measures how long each stage of the lab process takes — from the moment a test is ordered to the moment the report is delivered. This article explains how to use the TAT and workload reports in the LIMS.
TAT is the time elapsed between two defined events in the test lifecycle. The LIMS records a timestamp at every major step, making it possible to measure TAT for any interval.
| Interval | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Order to barcode | Time from bill creation to sticker generation |
| Barcode to collection | Time from sticker print to sample draw |
| Collection to reception | Transport time from phlebotomy to lab receipt |
| Reception to data entry | Processing time in the lab (analysis time) |
| Data entry to approval | Review and authorisation time |
| Approval to print | Time from sign-off to hard copy production |
| Total TAT | Order to report delivery |
- Go to Menu > Lab > Summaries.
- Select the TAT Report or Turnaround Time option (the exact label may vary).
- Set the filters:
- Date range — the period to analyse.
- Department — the lab section.
- Investigation — optionally narrow to a specific test.
- Click Search or Generate Report.
The report displays average TAT for each workflow interval, along with minimum and maximum values.
Workload reports show the volume of tests processed by different dimensions:
- Number of investigations received, processed, and approved per lab section.
- Useful for identifying which sections are overloaded and which have spare capacity.
- Total count of each test type ordered in the period.
- Helps plan reagent procurement and staffing.
- Number of tests processed on each analyzer.
- Useful for preventive maintenance scheduling and identifying under-used equipment.
- Tests collected or processed by individual staff members.
- Used for performance reviews and workload distribution planning.
Every investigation in the LIMS carries a timestamp for each step. These are the fields the TAT reports use:
| Timestamp field | When it is recorded |
|---|---|
| Ordered at | Bill creation |
| Barcode generated at | Sticker print |
| Collected at | Sample collection marked |
| Sample sent at | Sample dispatched to lab |
| Received at | Sample accepted at lab |
| Performed at | Analysis completed |
| Data entry at | Results entered into the system |
| Approved at | Report authorised |
| Printed at | Report printed |
If a step was skipped (e.g., sample bypass workflow), the corresponding timestamp is empty and that interval is excluded from the TAT calculation.
Common questions TAT data can answer:
- Which test consistently has the longest TAT? — Identify bottlenecks in specific tests.
- Is the transport time too long? — Large collection-to-reception interval suggests a courier or transport process issue.
- Are reports sitting in the approval queue? — Large data-entry-to-approval interval suggests a staffing or authorisation workflow issue.
- Which department is fastest? — Benchmark sections against each other.
Target TAT values should be set by the lab manager and reviewed regularly as part of the quality management programme.