To add a new instrument to the preLink V3 LIMS, on the top menu, click on 'Administration'.

 

and then 'Instrument Management'.


On the Instrument Management screen, click on 'Add new record' as indicated below.



This will take you to the following screen, where you will name and configure the new instrument:



Note: The screenshot below indicates the fields required for the instrument to be accepted by the LIMS



The following covers each section in detail;


Instrument Name: 

  • Instrument Name: The name of the instrument to be added.
    (Note: Can be a custom name but should be relevant and identifiable with the instrument being added)

  • Upload Suffix: Optional - As stated, it adds a suffix to R# for uploads to LIS. 


Instrument Settings:

  • Instrument Type: A drop-down list to select the instrument being added.
    (Note: The drop-down list contains all instruments currently supported by the preLink V3 LIMS)


  • Site: A drop-down list to select the laboratory site to which the instrument will be sending results to.


  • Connection Type: A drop-down list to select the connection type used to interface the instrument with the preLink LIMS Centralink.
    • Rs232 --------------------------    Requires Port/Socket Number & Baud Rate
    • TCP/IP Client ------------------     Requires Port/Socket Number & Server Address
    • TCP/IP Server ------------------    Requires Port/Socket Number
    • File Import ---------------------    Requires directory Name
    • SQL Server ---------------------    Requires Port/Socket Number
      (Note: Correct settings for the above should be in the instrument's manual) 


  • Online: A check-box used according to whether the instrument will have an online connection (Eg. Checked=online, unchecked=offline)


Interface Settings:

  • Ignore CheckSum: -------------------     For detecting errors during data transmission 
  • Device Id: -----------------------------     A distinctive number associated with the instrument/device
  • Auto Download: ----------------------    Automatically download data from the LIS server/cloud
  • Double Host Query: ------------------    For performing Domain Name System (DNS) lookups
  • Order Priority: ------------------------    Defines the priority/importance of the instrument in terms of its use
  • Resend after Initial Query:-----------    
  • Use Message (not Result) Date: -----
  • Send Multi Orders: -------------------
  • Send Patient Information: -----------
  • Track Query Times: -------------------


Once all the settings and parameters have been chosen, click on the 'Insert' button (bottom of screen) to add the instrument to the Instrument Management list. 


Otherwise, click on 'Cancel' or 'Return to List' (top right) to cancel everything and return to the Instrument Management screen.


After clicking on "Insert', the screen will flash and you will notice that the 'Insert' button has change to 'Update', with a new button labeled 'Delete' next to it. (To delete the instrument, see editing instruments).


You will also notice a new tab option available at the top for configuring the instrument's tests, as shown below;



To learn how to configure tests for the instrument, click here