System for tracking biological samples

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are described for the handling of biological specimens for analysis. The systems, methods and apparatus are designed to reduce errors in misidentification, incorrect processing, and recordkeeping and reporting. The systems, methods, and apparatus can also provide real time tracking of samples at any stage, from collection to processing to analyzing to storage.

1 . A computer program product for communicating data in a laboratory information management and control network comprising code that:
 receives data at a server from a single input point, said data including a first portion comprising at least one of case information, patient information and test order information, said data being entered at said single input point;   stores said data in a first database managed by said server;   automatically replicates said data from said first database to one or more hosts in communication with said server, a first host of said hosts controlling at least one laboratory instrument, said data being replicated without further data entry and using messages exchanged between said server and said first host; and   stores said data in a second database which is local to said first host.   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said single input point is a laboratory information management system managing patient and laboratory information. 
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one laboratory instrument includes at least one of: an imager, a stainer, a bar code reader, a label printer, an optical scanner, an instrument that writes information to a label, and an instrument that reads information from a label. 
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising code that:
 receives diagnostic information from a pathologist, wherein at least a portion of said information is received using at least one of: a computer entry station, a touch pad data entry device, a voice data entry device, and an interactive video with voice data entry device.   
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising code that:
 records pathologist diagnostic information on a label associated with a sample using a data recording device in communication with one of said hosts.   
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising code that:
 exchanges communications between said server and said host to automatically maintain a synchronized copy of said data in said first database and said second database in accordance with any updates made to said data by said server, said host, or another component in communication therewith.   
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 3 , wherein one of said instruments is an imager, said imager including a local memory or a data storage device upon which some of said data is stored. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , further comprising code that:
 produces image information using said imager;   stores said image information in said one of said local memory or said data storage device;   uploads said image information to said second database of said host; and   automatically replicates said image information to said first database and another host by exchanging messages therebetween to maintain data synchronization of shared data elements, said image information being a shared data element.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , further comprising code that:
 reports, by said imager, identifying information about a sample being processed at a point in time;   communicates said identifying information to said first host; and   automatically replicates said identifying information to said first data and another host by exchanging messages therebetween.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said first host controls a first set of one or more laboratory instruments operating in accordance with a first set of operations, and a second host is in communication with said first host and said server and controls a second set of one or more laboratory instruments operating in accordance with a second set of operations different than the first set of laboratory instruments. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising code that stores a portion of said image information on a label associated with a sample. 
     
     
         12 . A method for communicating data in a laboratory information management and control network comprising:
 receiving data at a server from a single input point, said data including a first portion comprising at least one of case information, patient information and test order information, said data being entered at said single input point;   storing said data in a first database managed by said server;   automatically replicating said data from said first database to one or more hosts in communication with said server, a first host of said hosts controlling at least one laboratory instrument, said data being replicated without further data entry and using messages exchanged between said server and said first host; and   storing said data in a second database which is local to said first host.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said single input point is a laboratory information management system managing patient and laboratory information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one laboratory instrument includes at least one of: an imager, a stainer, a bar code reader, a label printer, an optical scanner, an instrument that writes information to a label, and an instrument that reads information from a label. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: receiving diagnostic information from a pathologist, wherein at least a portion of said information is received using at least one of: a computer entry station, a touch pad data entry device, a voice data entry device, and an interactive video with voice data entry device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 recording pathologist diagnostic information on a label associated with a sample using a data recording device in communication with one of said hosts.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 exchanging communications between said server and said host to automatically maintain a synchronized copy of said data in said first database and said second database in accordance with any updates made to said data by said server, said host, or another component in communication therewith.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein one of said instruments is an imager, said imager including a local memory or a data storage device upon which some of said data is stored. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 producing image information using said imager;   storing said image information in said one of said local memory or said data storage device; uploading said image information to said second database of said host; and   automatically replicating said image information to said first database and another host by exchanging messages therebetween to maintain data synchronization of shared data elements, said image information being a shared data element.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first host controls a first set of one or more laboratory instruments operating in accordance with a first set of operations, and a second host is in communication with said first host and said server and controls a second set of one or more laboratory instruments operating in accordance with a second set of operations different than the first set of laboratory instruments.