Test categories
Organize tests into browsing groups that help reception, reports, and website pages stay clear.
What categories are for
Test categories organize the catalog into meaningful groups. They help reception browse tests faster, help managers review catalog coverage, and help public website pages display tests in a way patients can understand.
Categories are not clinical results and they do not change calculation logic. Their job is structure: grouping tests such as hematology, chemistry, hormones, microbiology, immunology, packages, or home collection services.
Fields
Each category has an English name and an Arabic name. Both should be written clearly because staff and patients may see either language depending on the active locale. The table also shows how many tests are attached to the category and when it was created.
Use names that are broad enough to hold several tests but specific enough to help browsing. A category named "Other" quickly becomes hard to manage.
How categories affect the workflow
When a test is created, the category helps reception find it and helps website visitors browse available services. Categories can also make reporting and management review easier because related tests appear together.
Changing a category does not change existing order results, but it can change how future staff find the test. Do not move active tests between categories during a busy shift unless the team knows the change.
Good category design
Start with the departments or service lines your lab actually uses. Avoid creating a separate category for every single test. Also avoid making one huge category that contains the whole catalog.
For bilingual consistency, keep Arabic and English names aligned in meaning. Do not use an English category that says "Clinical Chemistry" and an Arabic name that means "General Tests"; staff will eventually be confused.
Before deleting or renaming
Before changing a category name, check which tests are linked to it. If the category appears on your website, patient portal, printed materials, or staff training documents, update those references too.
If a category has many tests, rename it rather than deleting and recreating it. Deleting can make catalog history harder to understand.