Lab Interface: Overview

Kipu’s lab and analyzer interfaces allow you to send orders from and receive toxicology and/or clinical lab results  to the patient chart, saving your facility countless hours and effort spent filling out paper requisitions, reviewing, and scanning paper reports, or logging on to a separate portal to place orders and download results.

Orders are placed directly in the patient chart, generating electronic requisitions. All information required is sent electronically from Kipu to the lab, without the need for additional paperwork or portal data entry.

Reports can be easily located, and tests are highlighted to show any positive results and/or inconsistencies for easy review.

Labs Setup

The following items must be configured before you can begin using the Kipu Lab Interface. You may also need to make adjustments as you use the Labs functionality to better fit your workflows.

• Konnector: View the list of labs connected to your Kipu Interface. 
• Statements of Medical Necessity: Create standardized statements of medical necessity to provide the rationale for toxicology and clinical lab orders. 
• Lab Order Frequency: Set order frequencies based on intervals (e.g., every 3 days), occurrence (e.g., each Monday), or as needed. 
• Medical Test Profiles: Create custom lab test profiles for Toxicology, Clinical (bloodwork), Pharmacogenetics, and Hair Segmentation Lab tests.
• Users: Assign permissions for users who are authorized to manage lab orders, lab requisitions, and review lab results.

Using the Labs Interface

Once configured, you can use the Labs Interface to manage your testing needs. Review each process below to learn more.  

• Placing Lab Orders from the patient chart.
• Processing Lab Requisitions.
• Viewing Results.
• Signing Lab Orders and Results (Physician’s Review).
• Troubleshooting and FAQs.
• Generating billable items for lab requisitions
• Mapping billing codes to lab result panels

Urine Drug Testing (UDT/UDS)

Source: Kipu Health — Urine Drug Testing (UDT/UDS).

Types of Urine Drug Tests

Urine drug tests include two different types of tests:

• Qualitative (Presumptive) Tests: These tests indicate whether the sample is positive or negative for specified classes of drugs. These tests can be performed under either a Certificate of Waiver or a Certificate of Accreditation depending on the equipment and methodology used.
• Quantitative (Definitive) Tests: These tests identify the specific substance or drug and the quantity of the substance in the sample. Quantitative testing requires higher-complexity, costly equipment; in a clinic setting these tests typically require the lab (or clinic) to possess a CLIA certificate of accreditation to perform them.

Medical Necessity & Test Frequency (UDT-Specific Guidance)

UDTs and UDSs can play an important role in mental health and substance abuse treatment. For drug testing to be considered medically necessary, a physician must make an individualized, patient-specific determination about the frequency of testing and which drugs to include in testing for each patient.

Important: Because testing must be tailored to a patient's particular medical needs, standard panels of tests or testing at fixed intervals (for example, simply at every visit) may not meet medical necessity requirements. Always follow your organization's policies and procedures and consult with your ordering Physician and Compliance officer about appropriate frequency and panels.

Local Profile Templates (How Kipu Helps Tailor Orders)

Kipu allows you to create local profile templates that match your lab’s available test offerings. These templates simplify ordering and help tailor testing to the patient. Common local profile examples include:

• Comprehensive Intake Panel
• Alcohol and other sedatives
• Opiates and Opioids
• Stimulants
• Designer drugs
• Etc.

Important: To better understand a lab's exact test offerings and limitations, contact your lab representative.

Statements of Medical Necessity (SOMN)

The Overview (see "Statements of Medical Necessity") describes the setup and use of standardized SOMNs in the Labs Setup area. For UDTs specifically, create and customize SOMNs to reflect the patient-specific rationale for each order and avoid the appearance of cookie-cutter testing.

Recommended SOMN Examples (UDT-tailored)

Examples of UDT-specific SOMN templates your organization might configure include:

• SOMN™ for Intake testing
• SOMN™ for Alcohol/sedative testing
• SOMN™ for Opiate/Opioid testing
• SOMN™ for Stimulant testing
• SOMN™ for Designer Drug testing
• Etc.

Documentation & Reimbursement Considerations

Proper documentation that demonstrates individualized medical necessity helps support reimbursement for testing performed. It is strongly suggested that lab results include a review note and appropriate clinical documentation that justifies the testing performed — this reinforces the determination of medical necessity and supports the test-performing party's ability to obtain reimbursement.

Result Review Workflow (UDT Context)

When receiving UDT results in Kipu, follow your organization's policies and procedures regarding result review. The ordering physician should review lab results and — where required by your policies — enter a review note and sign the result (the Overview lists the general signing/physician review process in the "Using the Labs Interface" section).

Need Help or More Detail?

If you need additional assistance with panel definitions, CLIA/accreditation questions, or to better understand your lab's specific offerings, please contact your lab representative or Kipu Support for help mapping a lab's available tests to local Kipu profiles and Statements of Medical Necessity.