Industry · Healthcare & wellness
Websites and patient portals for diagnostic laboratories
A diagnostic laboratory's website does three jobs: helps patients find the right test and prepare for it, lets them order or book a visit, and delivers results securely. The last one is where laboratories differ most. A patient who receives results through a clear, secure portal comes back; one who has to call three times does not.
[ 01 ]
In short
In short
- 01
The test catalog needs search by test name, abbreviation and purpose, with preparation instructions and turnaround time.
- 02
Online ordering and payment of tests, or of popular test panels, speeds up the visit.
- 03
Home sample collection is a separate service with its own booking and logistics.
- 04
Results must be delivered through a secure channel with proper authentication — they are sensitive health data.
- 05
Integration with the laboratory information system avoids manual entry and errors.
[ 02 ]
Overview
Test catalog
Patients search for tests in different ways: by name, by abbreviation, by what their doctor wrote, or by a condition they want to check. A good catalog offers:
- search tolerant of abbreviations and spelling in Azerbaijani, Russian and Latin;
- for each test: what it measures, preparation (fasting, time of day, medication), sample type, turnaround time, price where published;
- panels and check-ups for common purposes;
- branch availability, since not every test is done at every branch.
Content should be reviewed by the laboratory's medical staff and avoid interpreting results or diagnosing conditions.
Ordering and visits
- Adding tests or panels to an order and paying online, so the visit takes less time.
- Choosing a branch and, if needed, a time slot.
- Home sample collection with address, time window and the list of tests.
- Corporate orders for companies arranging check-ups for employees.
See online booking systems and payment gateway integration.
Results portal
The results portal is the most sensitive part. It should provide:
- secure sign-in — for example, by phone number with a one-time code, plus an order code;
- results in a clear format with reference ranges, and a PDF for the doctor;
- history of previous results for comparison;
- notifications when results are ready, without including the results in the notification itself;
- family access only where the patient has explicitly allowed it.
See customer portals.
Health data protection
Laboratory results are health data, which Azerbaijan's personal data law treats as a special category. The system must restrict access by role, log every access, encrypt data in transit and at rest, keep results only as long as required, and be hosted with data protection in mind. Regular security audits are strongly advised. The legal framework is outlined in personal data law for websites.
Integration with the laboratory system
Orders created online should flow into the laboratory information system, and completed results should flow back to the portal automatically. We integrate through the system's API or an agreed exchange format, and we test carefully with anonymised data. See API integrations.
Referring doctors and clinics
Many orders come from doctors and partner clinics. A separate area for partners — ordering on behalf of patients and receiving results for their patients, with proper consent — strengthens these relationships. See private clinics.
What to measure
- Catalog searches without results.
- Online orders and their share of all visits.
- Time from result ready to result viewed.
- Calls to the call centre about results — they should decrease after the portal launches.
[ 03 ]
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can results be sent by email?
Email is less secure than a portal. If it is used, results should be in a protected file and patients should consent. A portal with notifications is the safer default.
Should prices be shown?
Many laboratories publish prices for individual tests and panels; it builds trust and reduces calls.
Can the portal show results from several branches?
Yes, when all branches use the same laboratory system or their systems are integrated into one data source.