Result entry concurrency (edit locks)  prevent conflicts and ensure data integrity

The LIS includes a concurrency (edit‑lock) feature that prevents two users from modifying the same results at the same time. This protects data integrity, reduces discrepancies, and minimizes errors. The feature can be enabled or disabled based on your lab’s preferences.

Enable or configure

• Go to Settings > General Settings.
• Turn on Concurrency (Edit Locks) and adjust any related options per your workflow.

How locks work

Order-level lock (default behavior when enabled)

• When a user opens an order in Result Entry, all tests in that order are locked to that user.
• If another user opens the same order, they will see an alert indicating the tests are locked by someone else and cannot edit those results.

Test-scoped locks using filters

To let multiple users work on the same order without conflicts, narrow the scope of what you load:

• Filter by Worksheets
  • Example:
    • User 1 filters by the Chemistry worksheet—only Chemistry tests for that order are locked by User 1.
    • User 2 filters by the Hematology worksheet—only Hematology tests are locked by User 2.
• Filter by Tests
  • Instead of worksheets, users can select specific tests. Each user locks only the tests they selected.

Viewing vs. editing:

• A user can uncheck “Filter by Worksheets/Tests” to view all tests in the order, but they can edit only the tests they originally filtered and locked. Other tests remain read‑only if locked by someone else.

Recommended workflows

Two users working the same order

1. Each user opens Result Entry and applies a filter:
   • User 1: filter by Chemistry worksheet (or selected Chemistry tests).
   • User 2: filter by Hematology worksheet (or selected Hematology tests).
2. Each user edits and saves only the tests within their filtered scope.
3. If needed, temporarily clear the filter to view all tests; continue editing only those you locked.

Best practices

• Choose your worksheet/test filters before loading orders to ensure precise locking.
• Communicate assignments (who owns which worksheets/tests) to avoid overlap.
• Save frequently and close the Result Entry screen when finished to release locks.
• If you see a “locked by another user” message, coordinate with that user or wait until the lock is released.

Notes

• With concurrency off, multiple users can edit the same test simultaneously, use with caution.
• When concurrency is on, locks are applied automatically based on what you load (entire order by default, or scoped to worksheets/tests when filtered).
• The system will alert users when a lock prevents editing; those results remain read‑only until the lock is released.
  
• Locked orders can be forced to to be released go to Tools/Result Entry Unlocker
  
• You can apply concurrence only to selected LIS modules