What is BLIS?
The Basic Laboratory Information System, BLIS,
is a freeware Web-based system that can be installed in a local,
district, or national laboratory. It is a tool that can help to
standardize data, which improves the ability to run useful reports
and can both give a realistic picture of laboratory services and
assist with staff and budget planning. With enough data, BLIS can
be used to track disease prevalence over time.
Features of BLIS include:
·
One-time entry of each unique patient
·
Standardization of data collected (allowable entries for specimen
type, test type, patient data, reagents are set at MOH level and
then entered consistently throughout a country)
·
Customization to a country’s needs
·
Ability to track lab supplies such as test kits, reagents
·
Ability to run reports as specified by a country
·
Automatic alerting of data values that may be out of
range(reference ranges and panic values are set at the regional or
national level)
·
Daily logs to be reviewed for data verification
·
Simple data backup
As with any properly implemented electronic record
system, BLIS may be found over time to improve data accuracy and
reduce costs in laboratories. Benefits already seen in labs using
BLIS:
·
Reduced burden for technicians, as results are available soon after
testing
·
Improved consistency of data entry
·
Ability to view patient history and track samples
·
Ability to aggregate data and analyze data patterns and trends at a
regional or national level
·
Printed patient records instead of handwritten records
·
Printed daily logs that make the reports looks like the paper forms
used in the laboratory
Overview of Manager (Admin) Interface and
Features
When you log in as an administrator, you see
the Manager home page.

To switch to User view, click the Work as
Technician link at the top right of the page.
Lab Configuration
This section allows you to choose what data
are collected to track the tests, reports, and other information.
Lab configuration is generally set at the country level, and may
vary by country.
BLIS can be used as a tool for standardizing
data collection. To implement BLIS in another lab, use the same lab
configuration settings. Use Export Configuration to create a
printable and exportable file.

Summary
This page displays information about lab,
specimen types, and test types. It also lists technicians’ logins
and privileges.

Tests
This page allows you to view and edit the
tests that are performed at this facility.

Specimen/Test Types
Allows you to set
the specimen and test types as appropriate for your country. Click
Show to reveal and Hide to close the list. Check the
box for each specimen type collected or test done at this facility,
and click Submit to save.

Target TAT
Displays turnaround times for tests. To enter
or change turnaround time, click Edit. The number and unit
(such as “24 hours”) change to a text field and a dropdown list.
Enter the desired number and choose Hours or Days.
When finished, click the Submit button to save changes, or
Cancel to discard changes. These options are below the
list.

Results Interpretation
Allows you to specify the interpretation for
multiple ranges of values for each test type. To view or edit an
existing test’s result, choose the test type from the dropdown list
and click the Search button. The current interpretation
appears. Edit using the text boxes.
To add a new range to the list, click the
Add Another link and enter data in the text boxes. Click the
Submit button to save changes, Cancel to discard
them.
Laboratory Trend Report
Generates an
aggregate report of laboratory test results for a particular period
for one or all lab sections. The tests listed in the report are the
ones checked to include on the Specimen/Test Types page. Click
Edit to make changes to the details reported. When finished,
click Submit button to save changes, Preview to view
the report, Cancel to discard changes.
Daily Report Settings
Allows you to set the layout of the Patient
Report, Daily Log of Specimens, and Daily Log of Patients. Use the
dropdown to select the report type, and click Search. Edit
report settings, and add or change a logo to appear on the report.
Check or uncheck boxes to show or hide patient, specimen, and test
information. When finished, click the Submit button to save
changes, or Cancel to discard changes. These options are
below the list.

Worksheet
Allows you to create templates for gather
patient data in the lab. In lab settings where data are not entered
at the point of service, the data entry staff enter patient
information and the tests ordered, then print the worksheet
so that lab technicians can write test results and other data to be
entered into BLIS. Select the Lab Section and Test
Type and click Search to edit the report format. To edit
a custom report, click Edit to the right of the report.

Inventory
Add the details of stock items.
New Stock allows you to enter a
shipment: Required fields are Reagent, Lot Number, Expiry Date,
Quantity Supplied, Units. To add more than one stock item you can
select Add Another.
Edit Stock allows you to edit
information about a reagent; find the one to edit on the list and
then click the Edit link in the far-right column. Click
Submit button to save changes, Cancel to discard.


User Accounts
This page shows all the users with access to
the system. It allows you to create new user accounts, edit account
settings, delete accounts, and monitor account activity.
Click Add New Account to enter a new
user.

Recent Activity opens a new browser
page to show the user’s activity by location, specimen entry, and
results. To view activity by date, enter or edit the start and end
dates of the range you wish to see and click View. When you
are finished, click Print or Close This Page.
Click Edit for a user to edit user
account details or to reset password. User Type dictates the
access the user has in the system. Reset Password allows you
as administrator to enter a new password for this user. Click
Submit button to save changes, Cancel to discard.
To remove a user account, click the
Delete link for that user. A confirmation box appears. Click
OK to complete the deletion, Cancel to keep that
user’s information.
Registration Fields
This page shows the configuration of the
patient registration page. It allows you to create mandatory fields
and hide the fields that are not used, per your country’s
protocols. It also allows for creation of certain custom fields for
Patient registration and new Specimen addition which may be needed
by certain labs only.
To customize fields, click Edit to make
changes: check the box to display a field, uncheck to hide. Set
fields as required. After editing, click Update button below
the fields to save changes, Cancel to discard.
To create new fields, choose the Add
New link for which to add, and enter field name and type. Click
Submit button to save changes, Cancel to discard.

Modify Language
BLIS allows you to toggle between languages.
You can also choose to change the language for a few pages using
this option. The pages are listed as a drop-down menu.
Select the language and category (type of page
or section). Select Search button to view or edit the text.
When finished, click Submit button to save changes,
Cancel to discard.

Setup Network
Use this procedure to add a computer other
than the primary one to the network. You will also do this after a
computer restart or network failure.
·
Login as Admin.
·
Click on the Setup Network option in the Lab Configuration
tab.
·
Navigate to the program files for BLIS.
·
Double click on the file BlisSetup.html


Export
Configuration
Use this feature to export all configuration
settings to Microsoft Word. Clicking this link opens a new browser
tab with a preview showing all preset and custom fields as well as
report settings. The preview has three buttons at the top: Print,
Export as Word document, and Close.
Click the Print button to open the
print dialog box; Export as Word document to create a file
named blisreport_[date of report].doc, which you may open or
save, or Close to close this browser tab.

Revert to Backup
In case of system failure, this feature allows
you to revert to a previously backed-up copy of the data. Clicking
the link presents the dates of the previous backups and allows you
to choose which data set to load.
Update to New
Version
This link automatically updates your version
of BLIS to the current one. It requires Internet
connectivity.
Test Catalog
Specimen Type
This is the place to add or edit specimen
types used in your laboratory.
Click Add New to enter a new specimen
type. Required fields are Name, which is a text box for
entering the name of the specimen, and Compatible Tests,
which allows you to check the tests that can be performed using
that specimen. Ctrl-F opens
the Find function to search for a test. You may enter a
Description of the specimen type, which is optional.

To edit the information about a specimen type,
find the one you wish to edit on the list and then click the
Edit link in the far-right column.

Click Submit button to save changes,
Cancel to discard.
Test Type
This is the place to add or edit test types
used in your laboratory. It is controlled the
same was as Specimen Types.
Click Add New to enter a new test type.
Required fields are Name, which is a text box; Lab
Section, a dropdown list that includes an option to add a new
section; Measures, which are editable; and Compatible
Specimens, which allows you to check one or more specimens that
can be used for this test.
Optional fields include Description
(text box), Clinical Data, Panel Test (a checkbox, checked
for Yes), Hide Patient’s Name dropdown Yes/No),
Prevalence Threshold (text box), and Target TAT (text
box).
To edit the information about a test type,
find the one you wish to edit on the list and then click the
Edit link in the far-right column.
Click Submit button to save changes,
Cancel to discard.

Backup Data
The application creates a backup automatically
when you select the Backup Data tab and saves it to the
application file folder. Your lab may have a designated folder to
which to copy the backup files.
Back up the data in BLIS
weekly.
The name of the backup file is
blis_backup_[username]_[date]-[time]/
In the Implementation
section we describe making monthly backups. I don’t see a way to
set a date range though. How do you get weekly vs. monthly vs.
comprehensive backups?
Overview of Technician Interface and Features
Home
When you log in as a technician, you see this
home page:
Users with Admin rights can click the Work
as Manager link in the top right corner to switch to Admin
view.
Users with Technician rights and not Manager
rights see the profile page. You can edit your profile to add or
change email, phone, and language. Username cannot be changed.

Click on the Change Password link to change
your password.

Registration
This page allows you to add new patients to
the system and to look up existing patients based on name, patient
ID, or number.
To add a new patient: Click the Search
button without entering any search criteria. The Add New
Patient link appears. Click the link and
wait for a dialog box to appear on your screen. Fill in the blank
fields and check the appropriate elements. Elements with asterisks
* are mandatory. Click on Submit to save, or Cancel
to discard changes and return to patient look-up page.

Patient Look-Up
Once a patient has been registered, you can
use the Registration page to view or edit patient profiles. You can
also register a specimen the patient has provided for a particular
test.
Click on the drop-down list and select patient
name, ID, or number. Type in the blank space the patient name, ID,
or number you have selected. Enter all the information you have for
that patient.
To add or edit a specimen record: Find the
patient as above, then click the Register Specimen link to
the right of the patient name. Fill in the blank fields and check
the appropriate elements. Elements with asterisks * are mandatory.
Click on Submit to save, or Cancel to discard changes
and return to patient look-up page. Add Another Specimen
allows you to add another one for this patient.

Results
Single Specimen
Results
This option allows you to add results for a patient based on
the specimens provided.
Click on the drop-down list and select patient
name, ID, or number. Type in the field at least X characters to
search.

To add or edit a specimen record: Find the
patient as above and then click the Enter Results link to
the right of the patient name. Fill in the blank fields and check
the appropriate elements. Click on Submit to save, or
Cancel to discard changes.

Batch
Results
This option allows you to add results for a particular Test
Type.

Select a test for which to find results. Set a
date range, then click Search. The results appear without
patient names . Click on
Submit to save, or
Cancel to discard changes.
Verify
Results
This option allows you to verify the result based on the
test type. It shows the list of results for all patients whose
results have not been verified. You can modify the results and
enter remarks before verifying the results.

Select a Test Type and click
Search. All test results for that test appear. Look over the
test results for accuracy. Edit the results as appropriate. When
you are finished, click on Verify, or Cancel to
discard changes. Choosing Verify opens a confirmation dialog box.
Click OK to mark results as verified, Cancel to
discard changes.
Control
Results
Select a test for which to find results. Choose the result
to find, then click Submit..

Worksheet
This option generates a worksheet based on the
Lab Section and Test Type. In lab settings where data are not
entered at the point of service, the data entry staff enter patient
information and the tests ordered, then print the worksheet
so that lab technicians can write test results and other data to be
entered into BLIS. Custom worksheet which can be created by
Admins using Lab Configuration > Tests > Reports >
Worksheet.
You can create a blank worksheet by choosing
the Keep Blank option and specifying the number of rows you
need. Click Submit to create the worksheet.

After generating the worksheet, you can click
on a column heading to sort the table by that field. You can then
Print in portrait (default) or landscape view, Export as
a Word Document, or Close the page. If you choose
Export, the default option is to open the Word document. You
can choose to print or save it from Word.
Search
This page allows you to search for a patient
by name, number, or ID. You can enter a partial name or ID (at
least X
characters) to generates a list
of matches.

Click View Profile to view the
patient’s profile and test history.
From the test history section, click
Details for specimen information. From there you can choose
Get Report for a specimen report; Track Actions to
view a log of actions on that specimen, or Enter Results to
enter the specimen analysis results. You can also generate a report
from the test history section on the profile page by clicking the
Report link.
From the profile page you can also
Register New Specimen, Update Profile, or Print Patient
Report.
Inventory
Current Inventory
This link displays the reagent quantities
currently in stock. It is not editable. To edit the list, click
Update Stock.

Update Stock
Click Update Stock to edit the
quantities of reagents in stock. Update stock as you acquire new
reagents by adding the reagent name, quantity
received, receiver name, and
remarks. Click Submit to
save changes.
Backup Data
When you click, a new page opens in your
browser while data are backed up automatically. The file is saved
as blis_backup_[username]_[date]-[time]
in the BLIS directory.
Copy this folder to your hard disk as backup or save as otherwise
directed by your country’s data backup protocol.
Reports
Any user (Technician or Manager) can generate
reports.
Daily Reports
The Patient Report and Daily Log should be run
every day
Patient Report
Search for the patient by Patient Name,
Patient Number, or Patient ID. Click the
Search button to start search. Select the patient you want
from the list if more than one patient matches your search
criteria. Click View Report to see all data for that
patient, or Select Tests to see tests ordered and the
results for that patient.
You can edit the report to show activity
within a date range, include pending tests for which results are
not available, set printing information, or export to Word using
the controls at the top of the page.
Patient
Report page.

Daily Log
Set the date range to reflect the log to
print. You can run a
report of the day’s activity by patients seen (by clicking
Patient Records), or by tests run (by clicking Test
Records). If you choose Test Records, You can choose to run a
log for one lab section or for one type of test. The default
settings are test records, all sections, and all tests. The report
opens in a new browser tab and has Print and Export
controls at the top of the page.
Aggregate Reports
After running an aggregate report, press
Ctrl-S to open the Save As dialog box. The default location
for saving reports is your Downloads folder on the C: drive.
Navigate to the folder where you want to save the reports.
Prevalence Rate
Gives the prevalence of a particular
laboratory test result based on the number
of tests done and the results. Set a date range to view infection
graph and prevalence rates. Click Submit to run the report,
which will open in a new browser tab.
You can also view
the trends of the laboratory test results for the defined period,
as a graph, by clicking the Trends option after the report
is displayed.
Counts
Generates a report for a particular time
period of the number of tests, specimens, or doctor statistics. Set
a date range and choose Test Count, Specimen Count, or Doctor
Statistics to run the desired report. The report opens in a new
browser tab.
Turnaround Time
Allows you to see actual turnaround times
between test order and completion for all or specific
tests. Set a date range and choose whether to include Impending
Tests. The default is completed tests only. The report opens in
a new browser tab. It also generates a graph of the statistics.
Infection Report
Allows you to generate reports of infections
by patient age and gender. Set a date range
and select one Lab Section, or all sections to see all test
results. The report opens in a new browser tab. It also provides an
option to create a Word document of the generated report.
Overview of Director Interface and Features
When you log in as the Director, following is
the home page you see.

Lab Configurations
This module allows you to add/view/modify
configurations for different labs.
Clicking on the Lab Configuration tab lists
the different facilities that have been previously added.

The configuration details along with the
options for viewing and editing the lab configuration are
displayed.

Tests
This option gives you the option to view the
various types of tests and specimens in the lab along with the
target turn-around time and preliminary interpretation of lab
results for the specific facility.
Specimen/Test Type

Target TAT

Reports
This helps the user to view lab results in
various formats for different class of data along with the option
to modify report configurations.
Infection Report

Daily Report Settings

Worksheet
Using this option the user can create
customized worksheets as shows below.

Lab Managers
This option enables the user to view the
various lab managers along with an option to add new managers and
edit details for existing ones.


Test Catalog
This enables the user to link lab
characteristics/elements which are logically the same for different
labs but are referenced by different names for the different labs.
This helps the user to create a common country level name for the
lab element.
Specimen Types
To associate logically same specimen types
referenced by different name in the various labs in order to create
a unique country level name for the specimen.

Test Types
To associate logically same test types
referenced by different name in the various labs in order to create
a unique country level name for the test.

Lab Sections
To associate logically same lab sections
referenced by different name in the various labs in order to create
a unique country level name for the lab section.

Measures
To associate logically same lab measure units
referenced by different name in the various labs in order to create
a unique country level name for the lab measures.

Reports
This enables the user to modify report
generation settings along with the option to view aggregate
statistics based on the various lab records.
Reports Settings
This enables the user to modify reports
generation settings.
Infection Report
This enables the user to modify settings for
infection report.

Aggregate Reports
This enables the user to view different
aggregate statistics based on the various lab records.
Prevalence Rate
This enables the user to track the prevalence
rate for various infections for different facilities together or
separately.


Turnaround Time
This enables the user to view turnaround time
for various lab tests for different facilities together or
separately.


Infection Report
This displays the aggregate results for lab
reports for various infections.

Inventory
This enables the user to track inventory of
lab reagents for different labs together or separately.

Appendix
Installation
If using a server and router, plug in the
router first.
·
Set up and turn on the server PC and its monitor.
·
Navigate to the BLIS home page and select
Download
·
Save the files to your hard drive.
·
Open the BLIS folder on the desktop and double click on
BLIS.exe. Wait for a dialog box to appear on the screen.
Choose Yes from the two options. The application will be
installed automatically and the full login screen will appear.
·
This completes installation for a single computer.
For networked computers, we recommend setting
a static IP address for the network.
·
Ensure that the computer is on the network.
·
Copy the file BlisSetup.html to the computer
·
Double click BlisSetup.html to install BLIS on the networked
computer.
·
Wait for the login screen. If the full screen with username,
password, and login does not appear, check the URL on the server
and make sure they are the same.