How to review and approve results¶
A result is not released until it is approved. Approval is the check that the result in InteLIS is the result the analyzer produced, and that it belongs to the right sample.
Results captured through the Interface Tool may be approved automatically, if the lab is configured that way. Results imported from a file or typed in by hand always pass through this page.
Before starting¶
- Results captured in InteLIS. See How to capture viral load results
- Permission to manage result status
- The analyzer printout or worklist for the run
Find the results waiting¶
- Go to HIV VIRAL LOAD → Test Result Management → Manage Results Status.
- Set Show Samples that are to Not Approved/Rejected.
- Narrow further with the filters if needed.
| Filter | Use |
|---|---|
| Batch Code | One analyzer run |
| Sample Test Date | Everything tested on one date |
| Facility Name | Samples from one health facility |
| Sample Collection Date | A collection date range |
| Sample Type | One specimen type |
| Manifest Code | Samples from one incoming package |
- Select Search.
Filtering by batch code is the most reliable approach. It puts one analyzer run on screen, which can be checked against one printout.
Check each result¶
For every row, check three things against the analyzer printout.
- The Sample ID matches.
- The result value matches.
- The patient shown is the patient expected for that Sample ID.
A mismatch between the Sample ID and the patient means the sample was registered against the wrong patient, or loaded into the wrong analyzer position. Do not approve it. Hold the sample and investigate.
Approve¶
- Tick the samples to approve.
- In Bulk Actions, set Status to Accepted.
- Set Approver, and set Tester and Reviewer if the lab records them.
- Select Apply.
InteLIS asks for confirmation before applying. Confirm to proceed.
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Replace existing | Overwrites the names already recorded on those samples. Leave it off to fill in only what is blank |
Where the same person is chosen for more than one of approver, tester, and reviewer, InteLIS either warns or refuses, depending on the lab's configuration. Where it warns, confirm only if the lab permits one person to hold both roles.
Reject a sample¶
Use rejection when the sample itself was not fit to test, such as a haemolysed or insufficient specimen.
- Tick the samples.
- Set Status to Rejected.
- Choose a Rejection Reason.
- Select Apply.
The reason appears on the report sent back to the facility, and in the sample rejection report. Choose the reason that tells the facility what to do differently next time.
Mark a sample lost¶
Use Lost when the sample cannot be found and will not be tested.
- Tick the samples.
- Set Status to Lost.
- Select Apply.
Cancel a sample¶
Use Cancel only when testing will not happen at all, such as a request entered twice or withdrawn by the clinician.
- Set Show Samples that are to Available for Cancellation.
- Select Search.
- Tick the samples.
- Set Status to Cancelled.
- Select Apply.
InteLIS asks for a typed confirmation word before cancelling. This is deliberate. Cancelling records that the sample was never tested, so it is excluded from testing counts and turnaround time.
Do not cancel a sample that was tested and failed. Failure and cancellation mean different things in the reports. See How to handle failed and held samples.
Correct an approved result¶
- Set Show Samples that are to Already Approved/Rejected.
- Select Search and find the sample.
- Apply the corrected status through Bulk Actions.
InteLIS asks before overwriting a result that already exists. Confirm only when the replacement is the correct result.
Samples lock after a number of days set by the administrator. A locked sample cannot be changed here. Ask the administrator.
Confirm it worked¶
Set Show Samples that are to Already Approved/Rejected and search on the batch code. Every sample from the run appears with its final status.
Samples still listed under Not Approved/Rejected have not been actioned.