OpenELIS Global Software Release Roadmap

Document URL: http://roadmap.openelis-global.org

Version Numbering

Format: Major.Minor.DevState.Fix (e.g., 3.1.3.1)

⚠️ Use only release versions (x.x.3.x) in production. Alpha and beta versions may have bugs.

📅 Note: All target dates are for code freeze. Documentation, regression testing, and acceptance testing add ~5 weeks before lab implementation.

At a Glance

🚀 v3.2 Feature Highlights (Q1 2026)

🧪 Core Lab Workflows

• Sample Storage Management - Track samples through storage hierarchy

• Sample Shipment & Referral - Electronic manifests and chain of custody

• Electronic Lab Notebook - Digital documentation with audit trails

• Customizable Order Entry - Visual form builder for program-specific workflows

• Patient & Order Enhancements - Photo capture, National ID, diagnosis fields

📊 Quality & Compliance

• Westgard Rules Dashboard - Visual QC compliance monitoring

• EQA Module - Proficiency testing and external quality assessment

• Reagent & Consumables Management - Lot tracking and expiration monitoring

• Freezer Monitoring Dashboard - Cold chain temperature tracking

🔗 Integrations

• Analyzer Management (ASTM) - GUI configuration for GeneXpert and more

• Terminology/OCL Integration - Dynamic data dictionary from Open Concept Lab

• Billing/Odoo Integration - ERP connection for billing workflows

• Multilingual Expansion - 50+ languages via Transifex

🖥️ Platform & UI

• White Labeling - Custom logos and color schemes

• Help Menu Overhaul - Context-aware assistance panel

• React Migration - Modern UI for test management

• Backend Testing - Target ≥60% test coverage

📄 View Full v3.2 Roadmap →

🔬 R&D / Future Features

🤖 Catalyst AI Suite

AI-Powered Lab Data Assistant

Catalyst enables natural language reporting and data extraction. Ask questions like "Show me turnaround time trends for CBC tests last quarter" and get instant answers - no SQL required.

Key Principles:

• 🔒 Privacy-first - AI sees schema only, never patient data

• 🌐 Flexible deployment - Local, central, or cloud AI models

• 📊 Personal dashboards - Customizable widgets and saved queries

📄 Learn More About Catalyst →

Catalyst Form Builder

• Visual drag-and-drop order entry screen designer

• Pre-built workflow blocks (Patient, Provider, Sample, Test Selection, Panel Selection, Referral, Barcode/Label)

• Conditional logic builder (no coding required)

• LLM-assisted form generation from natural language

• Import/export for cross-instance sharing with LOINC-based test identification

Catalyst Help System

• Context-aware, LLM-powered help throughout OpenELIS

• Natural language Q&A with inline source citations

• Guided tours and interactive walkthroughs

• Proactive error assistance with glow indicators

• Video tutorials with inline playback

• Offline-capable with embedded content

🔬 Advanced Pathology & Immunohistochemistry

Why This Matters

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and cytopathology are critical for cancer diagnosis and treatment planning. However, these workflows are complex, time-consuming, and error-prone, requiring pathologists to manually calculate scores using multiple systems (Allred scores, ASCO/CAP guidelines, St. Gallen criteria, Bethesda System), cross-reference results, and switch between applications.

These enhancements transform OpenELIS from a basic specimen tracker into an intelligent diagnostic assistant that reduces diagnostic time by 40-60%, eliminates manual calculation errors, ensures guideline compliance, and supports critical treatment decisions with instant classification and recommendations.

IHC Case View v2 - Auto-Calculations & Digital Pathology

Always-Visible Report Scoring:

• Dynamic report types: Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status, Dual ISH, Generic IHC

• Report-specific field sets appear automatically

• Sticky footer with Save Progress and Generate Report

• Real-time validation and interpretation hints

Automated Clinical Scoring:

• Allred Score Calculator - Auto-computes from proportion + intensity with override capability

• Ki-67 Proliferation Interpretation - St. Gallen 2013 guidelines (Low/Intermediate/High)

• HER2 ISH Interpretation - ASCO/CAP 2018 5-group classification with ratio calculation

• Molecular SubType Auto-Suggestion - Luminal A/B, HER2-enriched, Triple-negative

• All calculations show reasoning and allow clinical override with justification

IHC Panel Templates:

• 10+ pre-configured panels: Breast Cancer, Lymphoma (Basic & Extended), Melanoma, Lung Adenocarcinoma, Lung Squamous Cell, Prostate, GI Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, GIST

• Required vs optional markers with completion tracking

• Custom panel creation and management

Digital Slide Integration:

• Integrated WSI viewer between Results Entry and Report Scoring

• Pan, zoom, rotate, and annotation tools

• Side-by-side comparison with synchronized navigation

• Support for OpenSlide formats (SVS, NDPI, SCN) and DICOM WSI

Cytology Case View - Bethesda System Guided Workflow

Guided Wizard Interface:

• Step-by-step workflow through Bethesda System algorithm

• Visual progress indicator with completed/current/upcoming steps

• Conditional field display based on previous selections

• 82 dictionary entries for all Bethesda classifications

Bethesda Classification Support:

• Specimen adequacy assessment (Satisfactory/Limited/Unsatisfactory)

• General categorization (NILM/Epithelial Abnormality/Other)

• Squamous abnormalities: ASC-US, ASC-H, LSIL, HSIL, Squamous cell carcinoma

• Glandular abnormalities: AGC, AGC-FN, AIS, Adenocarcinoma

HPV Co-Testing Integration:

• HPV result capture with genotype-specific results (HPV 16, 18, Other HR-HPV)

• ASCCP guideline recommendations based on cytology + HPV results

• Risk level stratification (Low/Intermediate/High/Malignant)

• Color-coded results with override capability

🧪 Test Catalog Modernization

Why This Matters

The current test catalog, while functional for basic tests, cannot handle the complexity of modern laboratory workflows. Pathology requires orchestrating multiple steps, molecular tests need conditional branching, microbiology cultures require time-dependent protocols, and AMR surveillance needs specialized WHONET integration. This redesign enables OpenELIS to natively support anatomic pathology, microbiology, molecular testing, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Unified Test Editor

11 Vertical Tabs Organized by Section:

Configuration:

• Basic Info - Name, codes, AMR flags, status (Active, Orderable, Internal QA)

• Sample & Results - Sample types, result type, units, significant digits

• Ranges - Normal, Valid, Critical, Reporting ranges with age/sex variations (hour-level granularity for neonates)

• Sample Storage - Storage conditions, duration, disposal requirements, special handling

Organization:

• Display Order - Drag-and-drop ordering within sample types

• Panels - Panel membership with inline panel creation

• Terminology - LOINC, SNOMED, ICD-10 mappings

Resources:

• Reagents - Link reagents/consumables to tests

• Methods - Associate test methods with inline creation

Automation:

• Alerts - Rule builder for SMS/email notifications on critical/abnormal values

• Reflex & Calc - View reflex rules and calculated result relationships

Additional Catalog Features:

• Select List Results Management - Quick Selection Sets, favorites, duplicate detection, bulk assignment

• Panel Management Redesign - Drag-and-drop ordering, panel-specific LOINC codes, bulk import/export

• Methods Management Redesign - SOP document management, instrument/reagent linkage, bulk assignment

• Lab Unit Management - Organizational hierarchy, test/panel/method filtering, role-based access

📊 External Quality Assurance (EQA) Module

Why This Matters

Proficiency testing (PT) and External Quality Assurance are mandatory for laboratory accreditation (CAP, ISO 15189). Labs receive PT samples from providers, analyze them alongside routine samples, submit results, and receive performance reports. Currently, this process is manual and disconnected from the LIS.

Complete EQA Management:

EQA Event Management:

• Register proficiency testing events from providers (CAP, WHO, national programs)

• Track event details: provider, program, shipment dates, analytes tested

• Deadline management with automated reminders

• Event status tracking (Pending → In Progress → Submitted → Evaluated)

Sample Registration & Testing:

• Register PT samples as special order type flagged "EQA"

• Process through standard laboratory workflow

• Separate workqueue for EQA samples

• Blind testing support

Result Submission:

• Collect results from multiple tests within an event

• Review before external submission

• Export to provider-specific formats

• Track submission status and confirmation

Performance Tracking & Reporting:

• Import provider evaluation reports

• Compare lab results vs peer group and expected values

• Calculate scores and pass/fail status

• Trend analysis over time (by test, by technician, by method)

• Dashboard showing current compliance status

• Corrective action tracking for failures

🖥️ Core Workflow Modernization

Why This Matters

OpenELIS's core workflows for results entry, validation, and administration were designed over a decade ago. While functional, they lack modern UI patterns, require excessive clicking, and have inconsistent interfaces across modules.

Results Entry Redesign

• Streamlined interface with fewer clicks per result

• Inline editing for all result types

• Bulk result entry with keyboard navigation

• Smart result suggestions based on test history

• Improved select list display with text wrapping

Validation Workflow Redesign

• Batch validation with smart filtering

• Rule-based auto-validation for results within normal ranges

• Exception queue for results requiring review

• Digital signature integration

• Supervisor review queue

Admin Module Modernization

• Consistent Carbon Design System interface across all admin screens

• Improved navigation with logical grouping

• Inline creation and editing (no navigation away)

• Bulk operations for common admin tasks

• Audit log visibility for all configuration changes

🔗 Advanced Interoperability

FHIR Enhancements

• Two-Way FHIR Communication - Accept incoming FHIR resources from external systems

• FHIR Facade Investigation - Real-time FHIR exposure without data duplication

• Historical Data Pipeline - Performance optimization for bulk FHIR transformation

• Tighter JPA Server Integration - Reduce latency for real-time HIE integration

🛠️ Platform & Infrastructure

Code Quality & Developer Experience

• Code Base Refactoring - Improved package structure and separation of concerns

• Enhanced Logging - Comprehensive logging with consistent patterns

• Visual Schema Documentation - ER diagrams, table documentation, relationship mapping

• Improved Installation Experience - Real-time log display and progress indicators

• Integration Test Investigation - Fix silently failing tests, improve coverage to 60%+

🔧 Sample Management Enhancements

Advanced Sample Operations

• Partial Sample Usage - "Use" functionality to allocate portions while tracking remaining quantity

• Configurable Sample Tags - Tag-based system for fasting, pregnancy, timed collections

• Additional Storage Information - Enhanced storage conditions, disposal methods, and special instructions

🔗 Quick Links

🌍 Interoperability Snapshot

OpenELIS Global uses a fully featured FHIR R4 API for interoperability. Current integrations include:

📄 View Full Interoperability Roadmap →

Contact

Want to sponsor a feature or discuss integration? Contact us at digit@uw.edu