> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.prvaha.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Ordering and Tracking Lab Investigations in Prvaha

> Manage your clinic's test catalogue, order lab investigations for patients, and record results directly in Prvaha from the Lab Investigations section.

Prvaha's lab investigation module lets you manage a catalogue of tests, order investigations for patients, and record results without leaving the dashboard. Every investigation is linked to a patient record so that doctors always have a complete, up-to-date picture of a patient's diagnostic history. Administrators can add new test types to the catalogue at any time, making it straightforward to expand your clinic's offerings as your services grow.

## Investigation catalogue

The investigation catalogue is the master list of all tests your clinic can order. Only administrators can add, edit, or remove entries. Doctors and nurses can order investigations from the existing catalogue but cannot modify it.

Each investigation in the catalogue contains the following fields:

| Field               | Description                                                                                                         |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**            | The full name of the test, e.g. "Complete Blood Count" (required)                                                   |
| **Code**            | A short reference code, e.g. "CBC", used for quick identification                                                   |
| **Category**        | The investigation type: Hematology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Radiology, or Other                     |
| **Description**     | Optional notes about the test or its clinical purpose                                                               |
| **Requires a unit** | Toggle whether this test produces a numeric result that needs a unit of measurement                                 |
| **Supported units** | When units are enabled, list all valid units, e.g. "mg/dL", "g/L", "mmol/L" — add each by typing and pressing Enter |
| **Default unit**    | Select one of the supported units as the pre-selected default when recording results                                |

### Adding a test to the catalogue

To add a new investigation type, navigate to **Dashboard → Lab Investigations**, then click **New Lab Investigation**. Fill in the details and click **Save**. The new test immediately becomes available when placing orders.

<Tip>
  Add a short, recognisable code to every investigation type — for example, "LFT" for Liver Function Tests or "TFT" for Thyroid Function Tests. Codes make it faster for staff to search the catalogue and reduce the risk of ordering the wrong test when names are similar.
</Tip>

## Ordering a lab investigation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Lab Investigations">
    In the dashboard sidebar, click **Lab Investigations**, then click **New Lab Investigation** in the top-right corner of the list. Alternatively, you can initiate an investigation from within an appointment's workflow if your consultation workflow includes a lab ordering step.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the investigation type">
    Search for the test you want to order from your clinic's investigation catalogue. The search field supports partial name matching — for example, typing "blood" surfaces options such as "Complete Blood Count" and "Blood Glucose Fasting".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign the investigation to a patient">
    Select the patient for whom the test is being ordered. Confirm the details and click **Save** to create the investigation record. The test now appears in the **Lab Investigations** list.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Only administrators can create new investigation types in the catalogue. Doctors and nurses can order investigations from the existing catalogue but cannot add or remove test types.
</Note>

## Recording results

Once the lab returns a result, open the relevant investigation record and enter the findings directly in Prvaha.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the investigation record">
    From **Dashboard → Lab Investigations**, find the investigation in the list. You can filter by date or search by patient name to locate it quickly. Click the record to open its detail view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit and enter the result">
    In the investigation detail view, click **Edit** to open the edit form. Enter the result value in the appropriate field. If your clinic attaches scanned lab reports, upload the document here so it is stored alongside the structured result.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the result">
    Click **Save**. The result data becomes visible to any doctor viewing the patient's profile or the related appointment record.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Viewing a patient's investigations

All investigations ordered for a patient are accessible directly from their profile, giving doctors an at-a-glance view of outstanding and completed tests.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the patient profile">
    Navigate to **Patients** in the sidebar, search for the patient, and open their record.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review investigations from the appointment history">
    From the patient's **Appointments** tab, open the relevant appointment. Any lab investigations ordered during or in relation to that appointment are linked within the appointment's workflow or detail view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check results">
    Open an individual investigation record to view the full result detail or download any attached report.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  If your clinic offers specialised panels not covered by standard categories — such as allergy panels, genetic screenings, or hormone profiles — add them as custom investigation types in the catalogue under the **Other** category. Grouping related tests under a clear category makes the ordering screen easier to navigate and reduces the time staff spend searching for the right test.
</Tip>