Go-live delays usually trace back to catalog chaos — tests added in random order, parameters missing units, panels that do not expand correctly. A structured build sequence saves weeks of reprint rework.
Step 1 — Sections
Create laboratory sections first: Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Serology, Microbiology, etc. Sections organize workbench filters and printed report grouping.
Step 2 — High-volume tests
Add the twenty tests you run daily with correct rates, TAT, and section assignment. Attach parameters with data types and reference ranges. Verify one end-to-end report in PDF before adding the long tail.
Step 3 — Panels and profiles
Define panels as bundles of existing tests so reception sells one line item that expands correctly at registration and on the receipt. Avoid duplicate single tests inside panels unless your pricing model requires it.
Step 4 — Report blocks and special layouts
Some outputs need narrative blocks or images instead of parameter grids. Configure report blocks after standard parameters work — they layer on top of the same catalog entry.
Step 5 — Freeze and train
Declare a catalog freeze before go-live week. Train reception on panel names exactly as they appear in software. Bench staff should not invent ad-hoc tests during the first month — add missing items through admin workflow instead.