Laboratory information system and necessary improvements in function and programming

Abstract Since the 1970s, computer supported data processing has been implemented in the laboratory and laboratory information systems (LIS) are being developed. In the following years, the programs were expanded and new laboratory requirements were inserted to the LIS. In the last few years, the requirements have grown more and more. The current tasks of the LIS are not only the management of laboratory requirements but also management of processes, data security and data transfer and they have become very important. Therefore, the current monolithic architecture of LIS has reached its limits. New methodologies like service oriented architecture, e.g. microservices, should be implemented. Thereby different specialized manufacturers provide software for one or a few tasks. These tasks can be more easily actualized like in the new field of agile software development. This new concept has been designed to provide updates and customer requirements according to its new organization structure in program development in a short time. For efficient data transfer, new interfaces and a standardization of master data like logical observation identifier names and codes (LOINC®) are advisable. With the growing data transfer, data security plays an increasingly important role. New concepts like blockchain programming (e.g. Medrec) are currently tested in (laboratory) medicine. To get an overview of the requirements of the own LIS, an Ishikawa diagram should be created. The main points of an Ishikawa diagram are shown and discussed. Based on the today-collected data, expert systems will be developed. For this kind of data mining, a structured data exchange is necessary.