Parameters & Interpretation
A lab test is built from parameters — the individual measurable lines on a report (for example Hemoglobin, WBC Count). This page explains how to configure parameters, reference ranges, interpretation, computed (formula) parameters and per-test settings such as turnaround time and barcode identifier. Tests are managed under Manage Test.
At a glance
fa-flask | Parameter (range, match, normal, label) | Here is what happens at this step.
fa-circle-o | Reference range by age and gender | Here is what happens at this step.
fa-flask | Result inside range? | The lab writes down what they found.
fa-flask | In-range IC, normal label | Here is what happens at this step.
fa-circle-o | Out-of-range IC, abnormal in bold | Here is what happens at this step.
fa-circle-o | Critical IC or flag? | Here is what happens at this step.
fa-user-md | Pathologist alert | Here is what happens at this step.
fa-file-text-o | Report and work-list badges | We make a neat report to share.
Parameter types
Each parameter has a type that controls how it behaves:
| Type | Use it for |
|---|---|
range | Numeric results compared against a reference range (most common). |
match | Results matched against an expected value (e.g. Negative). |
normal | A free-text / descriptive result. |
label | A non-result heading row used to group parameters. |
Parameters also store a unit, default value, methodology, and whether the field is required.
Reference ranges
A range parameter can hold multiple reference ranges, each scoped by:
- Age (min/max, expressed in Years, Months or Days) and Gender (M/F/O), so neonatal, paediatric, adult and gender-specific ranges can coexist on one parameter.
- Min value / Max value for the normal band, plus separate in-range and out-of-range interpretation text.
A global range can be set as a fallback when no age/gender-specific range matches.
Hiding a reference range in print
Each range carries a hiddenInPrint flag. When set, that range row is not shown on the printed report — useful when an internal range should drive interpretation but should not appear to the patient.
tip
Use age/gender-scoped ranges to make a single test correct for every patient demographic, and use hiddenInPrint to keep the printed report clean.
Interpretation categories and colour coding
Every parameter result is classified into an interpretation category (IC). The categories and their default labels and colours are:
| Category | Default label | Colour |
|---|---|---|
IC0 | Neutral | primary |
IC1 | Normal | success (green) |
IC2 | Abnormal | danger (red) |
IC3 | Critical | danger (red) |
IC4 | Intermediate | info |
IC5 | Moderate | secondary |
IC6 | High | danger (red) |
IC7 | Low | warning |
A range can assign an in-range IC and an out-of-range IC, so a result is automatically coloured and labelled when it falls inside or outside the normal band.
The order-level summary rolls these up into resultingInterpretationCategories (which ICs are present in the order), powering the colour-coded interpretation badges and counts on the work-list.
Abnormal values and the "manually changed" flag
- When a result falls outside its range it is flagged abnormal (
isAbnormal) and printed in bold on the report so it stands out. - If a user types over a value by hand, the parameter is marked manually changed (
isManuallyChanged). This distinguishes hand-entered values from analyzer-pushed values.
Computed (formula) parameters
A parameter can be computed from other parameters rather than entered directly. Set a formula referencing other parameters (cross-parameter tracking), and MetahOS evaluates the result automatically. Formula parameters can reference values across packages using a package index.
caution
Editing formulas is a sensitive operation restricted to authorised users. Only users with the appropriate role may add or change a parameter formula.
Critical parameters
A parameter can be flagged as a critical parameter. Combined with the out-of-range interpretation categories (IC2, IC3, IC5, IC6, IC7) or a CRITICAL interpretation, this drives the critical-result alerts sent to pathologists. See Turnaround Time & Alerts.
Per-test settings
When creating or editing a test (under Manage Test) you can configure, in addition to parameters:
- Specimen / Sample type and Container type — picked from the lab master option lists (types:
SPECIMEN,CONTAINER). New values can be added inline. - Barcode identifier — suffix used to generate a per-test specimen barcode (see Sample & Barcode Tracking).
- Turnaround time (TAT) — see Turnaround Time & Alerts.
- No-table report — render the report as free text instead of a parameter table.
- Reference files — attach reference images/files to the test.
- External mapping ID — used by the External LIS integration (see Sending Reports).