Lab type
Immunology
Titres, patterns and paraproteins reported with the comment that explains them.
Who it is for
Clinical immunology laboratories reporting autoimmune serology, protein studies and allergy testing, and histocompatibility laboratories supporting transplant programmes. It suits hospital immunology departments and independent laboratories that want structured results without an expensive specialist module.
Immunology results often mean little without context: a titre, a pattern, a cut-off that depends on the assay. VipLIMS lets you report titres, coded patterns and numeric results side by side, then add the interpretive comment that tells the clinician what the combination means.
A day with VipLIMS
- A rheumatology clinic requests a connective tissue disease screen through the referrer portal. The sample is received, the request is numbered, for example
IM26-012044, and the TAT clock starts. - The ANA titre and pattern are recorded from immunofluorescence, using pattern names that follow ICAP nomenclature. ENA and anti-dsDNA results are added as they come off the bench.
- Meanwhile an urgent vasculitis screen from the renal unit is strongly positive. The scientist phones the result and records the call on the request.
- A clinical scientist reviews the requests, writes an interpretive comment where the pattern of results needs explaining, and authorises.
- The PDF report is released to the clinic in the portal and the TAT closes.
- In the afternoon, a deceased-donor crossmatch comes in. It is registered as urgent, its own TAT runs in hours, and the histocompatibility report records typing, antibodies and crossmatch results in separate sections.
What the pack sets up
Ready on day one, editable afterwards
Case types and numbering
| Case type | Example number | Routine target | Urgent target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoimmune serology | IM26-000042 | 7 days | 1 day |
| Allergy | AL26-000042 | 7 days | 3 days |
| Proteins and paraproteins | PR26-000042 | 5 days | 1 day |
| HLA typing | HL26-00042 | 14 days | 2 days |
| Crossmatch and antibody screening | XM26-00042 | 1 day | 6 h |
Example tests
| Test | Unit (UCUM) | Example reference range |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-dsDNA antibodies | [IU]/mL | ≤ 10 IU/mL |
| MPO antibodies | [IU]/mL | ≤ 3.5 IU/mL |
| PR3 antibodies | [IU]/mL | ≤ 2 IU/mL |
| Anti-GBM antibodies | U/mL | ≤ 7 U/mL |
| Tissue transglutaminase IgA | U/mL | ≤ 7 U/mL |
| Rheumatoid factor | [IU]/mL | ≤ 14 IU/mL |
| Anti-CCP antibodies | U/mL | ≤ 7 U/mL |
| Immunoglobulin G | g/L | 6–16 g/L |
| Immunoglobulin A | g/L | 0.8–4 g/L |
| Immunoglobulin M | g/L | 0.5–2 g/L |
Reference ranges and cut-offs in this pack are illustrative adult examples only. Most autoantibody cut-offs are assay-specific. Every laboratory must verify and replace them with its own validated ranges before reporting.
Report sections
- Results required
- Interpretive comment
Specimen types
- Serum (clotted)
- Whole blood, EDTA
- Whole blood, ACD
- Buccal swab
- Urine, early morning
- CSF with paired serum
- Serum for tryptase (timed)
Words your team will see
- Reporter
- Clinical immunologist
- Sender
- Requester
- Work item
- Request
- Subject
- Patient
- Specimen
- Sample
- Output
- Report
Good practice built in
- Titres, coded patterns and numeric results in one report, with reference ranges and assay-specific cut-offs you configure.
- Interpretive comments as a dedicated report section, not an afterthought.
- Turnaround targets per case type and priority, including hour-level targets for urgent crossmatches.
- Versioned reports and a full audit trail of results, telephoned values, authorisation and amendments.
- Supports workflows that laboratories accredited to ISO 15189 need, and record-keeping that histocompatibility laboratories working towards EFI or ASHI standards will recognise.
- Mandatory two-factor sign-in, encryption at rest and a full export of your data whenever you ask.
Questions labs ask
Can VipLIMS read our ELISA plates or IIF images?
Not yet. There is no direct instrument or image interface at present, so results are entered on the request.
Does it track a patient's paraprotein over time?
Each request stores its own results, and every result stays on the patient record. A dedicated trend graph for paraproteins is not available yet.
Is it suitable as a full transplant information system?
No. VipLIMS records laboratory typing, antibody and crossmatch results. Donor allocation, waiting lists and national registry links stay in your transplant systems.
Are the cut-offs in the template ready to use?
No. Most immunology cut-offs are assay-specific. Treat the template values as placeholders and replace them with your validated values.
Try the immunology pack
Create your laboratory, choose this pack, load the sample cases and see how it fits your work. Free, with no card.