Adding: Laboratory work

In the last chapter we covered the process of adding records of clinical work to the clinical screen. In this and the following two chapters we will discuss further clinical screens and their functionality.

Configuring and recording laboratory tests
Premvet 5 can record the results of laboratory tests carried out on individual animals or herds. On each animal's record card there is an additional screen designed to record the type and results of any tests performed. A system for setting up the available test names and the normal ranges for varying species is also available.

Chapter Contents

Configuring/adding laboratory tests and normal ranges

The first step in recording laboratory tests is to tell Premvet 5 which tests you perform and define the normal ranges of results. To do this you need to select the 'R'eport option from the main menu, and then select 'L'aboratory. Whenever you need to set up a new test, or change any of the existing settings, you will need to return to this screen.

You will find the following options are displayed:

	Display/print normal range
	Edit normal range
	Create/delete a file
	Set-up profile
	List profiles etc.
	Bacteriology set up
	Pathogen set up

Display/print normal range

This option will display or print details of the full range of tests available to you. You can store many different types of test on the system, and Premvet 5 organises them all according to animal species. Therefore once you have selected this option, Premvet 5 will prompt you to choose a species. Select as appropriate.

Edit normal range

If you change laboratories or wish to add a new test then use this option. You will be prompted for the species you wish to change. The screen will then display the current settings for the appropriate tests.

Adult/Juvenile test results

Adult/Normal/Juvenile

As the normal ranges for lab tests vary with age the system will switch the lab file used based on the age of the animal. The species file will have a letter appended:

'species'+g	Geriatric (animals > 7 years old)
'species'+j	Juvenile (Animals < 2 years old)

So if the animal (a dog) is 8 years old the lab file canineg.lab will be used automatically.

Tip: To save entering all the tests again when creating the file:

• Use the 'Create a file' option in Laboratory Work

• Press F6 to get to a Vet> prompt

• Type cp <species>.lab <species>+X.lab
  e.g. cp canine.lab canineg.lab
  (in the case of Geriatric Canine)

• Type exit (or press ^d) and select edit.

Create/delete a file

Create

We have already seen that Premvet 5 organises tests according to species. In fact, the test details for each species are stored in separate files. If you want to add tests for species which do not already exist on the system you choose the Create option. You will be prompted for species name, and a blank file for that species will be created.

Delete

This option will delete an existing species file. You are asked which file to delete, and should select from the options shown. The file will then be erased. Make sure that there are no profiles set up that use this file. (see below)

Set-up a profile

Some tests are routinely performed together, and you will need to enter all the results at the same time. To save you from selecting each test from a large list, or accidently forgetting to enter one of the results, you can set up a profile. In this way, you just group together tests which are often completed at the same time under a single profile name: so Premvet 5 can prompt you for the results sequentially. A profile can prompt you for up to 20 tests at a time e.g. Vettest K9 biochem or XLabs feline haem.

Here's a step by step guide to creating or editing a profile:

1. Use the Display/print normal range option to generate a list of the available tests. You will notice each test is allocated a 'Test Number'. Make a note of the test number for each test you wish to add to a profile.
2. Now choose the Set-up a profile option. A list of current profiles is displayed. You can now add a new profile or change an existing one. Select accordingly.
3. If you have chosen to add a new profile, Premvet 5 will prompt you for a name. Remember that to use this profile in the future you will need to select it from a list, so try and make the name as meaningful as possible and include the species the profile relates to.
4. Premvet 5 will now display a list of species which have tests on the system. Select the relevant species for the profile you are creating.
5. Premvet 5 will now prompt you for the 'Test Number' you wish to add. Enter the numbers you noted in Step 1. When you have finished, enter 'Q' (for Quit).

If you wish to delete a profile enter the name 'SPARE' at Step 3, above. Individual tests within a profile can be deleted by selecting the appropriate test and picking the 'D'elete option.

Note: When you are using your profile in practice, remember that if you want to record zero as a test result, use the format [equals][zero] (i.e. '= 0'). If you simply enter '0' no figure will be recorded for this test, you'll just skip to the next one.

List profiles

This option will printout any profiles that are set up along with the bacteriology tests and pathogens.

Bacteriology set up

This option is used to set up or edit the antibiotic sensitivity tests. Currently you are limited to 22 of these. You will also have to enter a 2 character code by which they are known. This is to enable the screen to display all the tests at one time. When selected the screen will display the current tests on file allowing you to edit/add as appropriate.

Pathogen set up

This is similar in use to the bacteriology set up and relates to the pathogens isolated (up to 30 pathogens can be stored).

Recording Laboratory Work

To enter laboratory results, you first need to bring up the management record card for the animal concerned. The Laboratory results screen is the first 'hidden' clinical screen. To display the screen enter the figure ' 1 ' at the management or clinical record prompt. You will notice the Laboratory results screen is similar in appearance to the clinical records screen.

Premvet 5 automatically decides which tests are available to the animal concerned by consulting the species information in the management record card. The system will then use the laboratory results file that matches this species (see section above), and the name of this file will be displayed in the top right of the screen.

The screen will display any existing data on file, for example:

(2) MELVIN TOM MR : MITZI            Laboratory Results

04.04.92   Haemoglobin                            18.00 12.00
           Phosphorus                        87    1.60  2.40  Hi 50

Option available from the laboratory prompt line are detailed as follows:

           |-  Date           Change the test date
           |-  Edit           Edit/Change details on the screen
           |-  List           List on screen/printer
           |-  Reps           Generate a report
           |-  Short          Re-display screen
           |-  Graph          Graph a specific result over a period
           |-  Use            Change species file for tests
           |-  Expand         Expand a bacteriology result
           |-  Quit           Return to the main menu
           |-  Add            Adds work to the record
                 |- Note      Free-hand note
                 |- Profile   Profile entry
                 |- Bact      Bacteriology result
                 |- Test      Laboratory test
                 |- Ref       Enter a reference number

Date

This allows you to alter the date on which the transactions are added.

Edit

Allows you to edit the results on the screen. When this option is selected the record number will be displayed beside each record on the left of the screen. Select the number of the record you wish to change and the record will be displayed in a box on the left of the screen enabling you to edit as required.

List

Displays information including that prior to the records shown on the screen, either on the screen or printer.

Short

Displays the short form record.

Graph

You will be prompted for the test to graph, the system will read all the records and display (in an identical fashion to Weight Graphs the results.

The system will use the normal ranges from the species file NOT the normals at the time the test was carried out.

Use

Changes or selects the laboratory file in use. As described above, the laboratory results file currently in use is displayed in the top right hand corner of the screen. Premvet 5 will have automatically chosen this file if it matches the species information on the animal's management record card. If you wish to alter this file, the Use option will display all the available files allowing you to select the one required.

Expand

The bacteriology result is stored in the file in an abbreviated form. This option expands the record and display the result in a box. If required a further expansion using the full test name may then be selected.

Add

Adds data onto the record card. You will be offered the following options:

Note

A note is a free hand entry relating to laboratory tests. A window will appear allowing you to enter up to seven lines of text. You can enter two types of note. A 'general' note will be related to all the test results you enter in this session. A 'specific' note relates to just one of the test results you enter. When notes are displayed or printed you can identify general notes as they appear at the very bottom of data added on the same day. Specific notes appear immediately beneath the test they relate to.
NB: When you are running the specific test report, only notes relating to that kind of test will be printed.

Test

Select this option to add the results of a test. Premvet 5 will prompt you for the name of the test you wish to enter. If you can't remember the test's complete name on the system, enter the first few letters. A list of all matches will be displayed enabling you to select accordingly. The test will then be displayed, along with the normal ranges. When you enter the result Premvet 5 will tell you if it is abnormal and if so by what percentage. You can also prefix the result you enter with some additional characters. Premvet 5 will recognise: < Greater Than
> Less than
= Equals
The following characters are also valid: # , ~ , - , !

Ref

You will be asked to enter a reference number. This can be used to enter the animal reference on farm records or for an internal laboratory number. This information will be printed before any test results. This reference number/name must have the same date as the tests it relates to. If while generating the report the date changes the reference will be ignored.

Profile

Selects a profile. The screen displays all the available profiles. Select the profile required. You will be asked to enter the appropriate results. If you want to skip a test within a profile enter a 'q' instead of a result. Once all the data has been entered the screen will be updated and you will be returned to the prompt line.

Bact

Enters antibiotic sensitivity information onto the system. When selected the box will display a blank record containing the tests available, swab location and pathogen isolated and you will have the following choices:

1. Loop - This option will loop through the tests prompting you for the result. Enter 'S' - sensitive, 'R' - resistant or 'N' - No data.
2. Test (Bact) - Enter a specific result. You will be prompted for either the 2 character code or the first part of the description. You will then be asked to enter the result.
3. Path - When this is selected all the available pathogens on file will be displayed allowing you to select the pathogen required. If no data is available enter a zero.
4. Swab - This is the location of the swab.
5. Note - Allows you to enter a note specific to antibiotic results.

Reports

This will enable the results stored to be printed out in a presentable format. All reports have the practice name and animal details at the top of the printout. This information is taken from the 'billing address' for surgery 1 of the practice.

All the reports can be filed onto the hard disk, enabling you to alter/rearrange the information with a word processor as required. The files will be stored with the suffix .doc.

After you have chosen the Report option, Premvet 5 will ask you which type of report you would like to produce:

Report on <T>ests, <B>act or <Q>uit

• Tests
  The report is produced on the laboratory tests ignoring all bacteriological results. Reports can be generated for a specific period rather than from one date until the end. You are asked to enter the range of dates concerned. the dates MUST be separated with a hyphen '-'. If only one date is entered the report will include all work from that date onwards.

  Note: If you have added notes specific to individual tests, these will appear immediately beneath the test they relate to. However, if the tests were added via a profile, and a note was added to a test within that profile, Premvet 5 does not recognise the note is attached. To print this note you will need to use the 'A'll option rather than 'S'pecific.

Hidden option Laboratory