Lab type
Cytology
Gynae, non-gynae and FNA cytology on one clear worklist.
Who it is for
Cytology laboratories handling cervical samples, urine, fluids and fine-needle aspirates, whether as a stand-alone service or alongside a histopathology department. It also suits smaller laboratories that report non-gynae cytology a few times a week and want it properly recorded rather than kept in a spreadsheet.
Cytology reporting depends on adequacy statements, categories and recommendations that clinicians act on. VipLIMS gives each of those its own place in the report, so a result is never buried in free text and every case can be counted when you audit your category rates.
A day with VipLIMS
- A sexual health clinic sends a liquid-based cytology vial and request through the referrer portal. The case is registered at reception and given its number, for example
HPV26-004512, and the TAT clock starts. - The HPV result is entered against the case. A positive result prompts reflex cytology on the same vial, still under the same case.
- A cytology screener reviews the slide and records adequacy and a provisional category. Cases needing a second look are passed to an advanced practitioner or pathologist from the worklist.
- The reporter selects the category from the list your laboratory configures, adds a comment and a recommendation for follow-up or referral, and authorises the report.
- A PDF report is generated and released to the clinic through the portal. The TAT for the case closes and counts towards your monthly figures.
- For an urgent EBUS sample later that day, the ROSE adequacy recorded in the procedure room is already on the case when the slides reach the laboratory.
What the pack sets up
Ready on day one, editable afterwards
Case types and numbering
| Case type | Example number | Routine target | Urgent target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervical cytology (LBC) | G26-000042 | 14 days | 3 days |
| HPV primary screening | HPV26-000042 | 7 days | 2 days |
| Non-gynae cytology | C26-00042 | 7 days | 2 days |
| Fine-needle aspiration | F26-00042 | 7 days | 1 day |
Report sections
- HPV result
- Sample adequacy required
- Cytology category required
- Comment
- Recommendation required
Specimen types
- Cervical sample (LBC)
- Urine, voided
- Urine, instrumented or washing
- Pleural fluid
- Peritoneal (ascitic) fluid
- Sputum
- Bronchial washing or brushing
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- FNA, thyroid
- FNA, lymph node
- FNA, breast
- FNA, salivary gland
- EBUS-TBNA
Starter synoptic templates
- Generic cytology categorisation (starter)
Written by VipLIMS; not RCPath, ICCR or CAP datasets. Build forms for the datasets your laboratory is licensed to use.
Words your team will see
- Reporter
- Pathologist
- Sender
- Clinic
- Work item
- Case
- Subject
- Patient
- Specimen
- Sample
- Output
- Report
Good practice built in
- Separate, required sections for adequacy, category and recommendation, so no report goes out incomplete.
- Turnaround targets per case type and priority, including screening-style targets measured in days.
- Versioned reports with a full audit trail of screening, checking, authorisation and amendment.
- Category lists you edit to match the reporting system your laboratory uses, rather than wording fixed by us.
- Supports workflows that laboratories accredited to ISO 15189 need, including traceable sign-off and amendment history.
- Mandatory two-factor sign-in, encryption at rest and a full export of your data on request.
Questions labs ask
Does VipLIMS run a cervical screening call and recall service?
No. VipLIMS records and reports the laboratory result. Invitations, recall and failsafe stay with your national or regional screening system.
Are the Bethesda, Paris or Milan systems built in?
We ship generic categories that you can rename to match the system you report to. We do not reproduce the published atlases or their text.
Can it connect to our HPV analyser?
Not yet. There is no direct instrument interface at present, so HPV results are entered on the case.
Can we track screener workload?
Every screening and checking action is recorded with the user and time, so you can review individual activity from the audit trail. Formal workload-limit alerts are not built in yet.
Try the cytology pack
Create your laboratory, choose this pack, load the sample cases and see how it fits your work. Free, with no card.