Fair priority rules
Fasting patients, urgent orders, children or elderly patients can move ahead according to rules you set, and the screen shows the order so everyone can see it is fair.
Healthcare · Laboratories
Laboratory queue management for busy collection rooms
Spread the early-morning rush, call fasting and urgent patients first by clear rules, and keep the results counter out of the collection queue. For hospital labs, diagnostic centers and collection points.
- Priority rules
- Booked + walk-in draws
- From $50 / month
What it does
Sample collection without the morning crush
Laboratories get most of their patients in the first hours of the morning, many of them fasting. A queue system spreads the load, puts the right patients first and keeps the results counter separate.
Booked and walk-in draws
Patients can book a collection time online (Enterprise plan) and walk-ins fill the gaps, which flattens the early-morning peak.
Registration, collection, results
Each step has its own queue, and one ticket moves the patient from registration to the collection room.
Several collection rooms
Staff in each room call the next patient; the screen shows the number and the room.
Wait outside, come back on time
Patients follow their place in line on their phone and get an SMS when it is their turn.
Know your peaks
Waiting and service times by hour and by step show where to add staff on busy mornings.
How a visit flows
From registration to the collection room, in five steps
1
Check in
QR code, kiosk or reception; booked patients confirm their arrival.
2
Registration
Order and details are checked at the registration desk, called by number.
3
Priority applied
Fasting or urgent patients move up by the rules you set; everyone sees their place.
4
Collection
Called to the free collection room; the screen shows number and room.
5
Results counter
Collecting results or reports is its own short queue, away from the collection rush.
Setting it up
What a laboratory actually needs
Most labs start with the screens and tablets already in the building.
Typical setup
- Services: registration, sample collection (one “counter” per collection room) and results.
- Priority rules agreed with the medical team, for example fasting patients first before 9:00, urgent orders always first.
- A screen in each waiting area and a QR code at the entrance; a tablet kiosk for patients without a smartphone.
- Booking slots for collection in the busiest hours, if you use the Enterprise plan.
Good habits
- Publish the rules: a short sign explaining who is called first avoids most complaints.
- Call numbers, not names, in shared waiting areas.
- Keep medical data out of the queue: the order and results stay in your laboratory system.
- Look at the first two weeks of reports and move one person to the morning peak if needed.
| For a laboratory | Starter · $50/month | Enterprise · $100/month |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | 1 | Up to 5 |
| Counters / collection points | 3 | Unlimited |
| Team members | 5 | 50 |
| QR & mobile check-in, kiosk | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waiting-room display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Appointment booking | — | ✓ |
| SMS when it is their turn | — | ✓ |
| Analytics | Basic | Advanced |
Plans as listed on the Qwaiton pricing page. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Keep reading
Related pages
Hospital & healthcare queues
Patient flow across registration, lab, radiology and pharmacy.
Healthcare →Pharmacy queues
Drop-off, pick-up and advice, with an SMS when it is ready.
Pharmacies →Reducing patient waiting time
Ten practical steps for hospitals and clinics.
Read the guide →Appointment booking
Online booking with reminders, mixed with walk-ins.
Appointments →Clinic queue system
Walk-ins and appointments in one list.
Clinics →Business intelligence
Waiting and service times by hour, service and room.
Analytics →
FAQ
Laboratory queues, answered
What is a laboratory queue management system?
Software that manages the line for registration, sample collection and results: patients check in, get a number, are moved up by priority rules where needed, and are called to the free collection room on a screen or by SMS.
Can fasting or urgent patients be called first?
Yes. You set the priority rules, for example fasting patients first in the early morning or urgent orders always first, and the screen shows the order so patients can see it is fair.
Can patients book a collection time?
Yes, online appointment booking is part of the Enterprise plan ($100 per month); walk-ins and booked patients share one queue.
We have several collection rooms. Does that work?
Yes. Each room calls the next patient, and the screen shows the ticket number and the room. Starter covers 3 counters or rooms; Enterprise has no limit.
Does the queue store medical data?
It should not need to. The queue only needs a ticket, the service and optionally a first name and mobile number; orders and results stay in your laboratory system.
Shorter mornings
in the collection room.
Try Qwaiton free for 14 days: set up registration, collection and results, add your priority rules and call your first patient today.
14-day free trial · No credit card · From $50 / month