How do I add or create a lab order?

If you're connected to LabCorp, please see How do I create a LabCorp Order?

If you're connected to Quest, please see How do I create a Quest Order?

With Practice Fusion, manage your lab and imaging orders and receive results directly within the EHR. You can also easily share results with patients that you’ve enrolled in Patient Fusion.


Getting Started

Connect your EHR with a lab partner: If you have not yet set up a lab integration with your EHR, please follow the steps in the article "How do I sign up for a lab integration?" Practice Fusion will notify you once your connection has been approved.

Enable specimen collection settings: If you collect specimens in-house, an administrator must first enable specimen label printing in the Settings section. For detailed information on enabling specimen label printing, see How do I create a specimen label for my lab order?

Creating orders in your EHR

Once your practice is connected to a lab or imaging center, you're ready to begin ordering.

1. Navigate to a patient chart

2. From the Actions menu, select Add lab order. If you are charting an encounter, you can also scroll down to the Orders section and click Add.


Time-saving tip: If you have previously ordered labs for this patient, your order will automatically pre-populate your last selected lab.

3. If the preferred lab for your order is not already selected, select one from the drop down list.

If you are not connected to a lab: To record an order for print/fax, record keeping, or to meet Meaningful Use measures, select “Other.”

4. If you need to add more tests, you may search for items using either the name or your lab’s test code. When searching some tests also support keywords and synonyms (ie: To locate  "complete metabolic panel," you may search for CMP, Complete or Comprehensive M). If you don't find the test name, you can enter a custom test and the lab's test code, if available.

5. You can search for a new diagnosis or select one from the patient’s diagnosis history listed in the details pane on the left for easy selection.  You’ll also notice that pending orders and templates are listed in the details pane.

Search by description, ICD-9 code, or ICD-10 code within the Add diagnosis field to select from a list of related diagnoses. If you select an ICD-10 code or an ICD-9 code that matches to only one ICD-10 code, the ICD-10 code will automatically be added to the order. If the diagnosis maps to multiple ICD-10 codes,  use the refine search filters to narrow the number results and select the applicable ICD-10 code. For detailed instructions on adding ICD-10 codes, please see: How do I add ICD-10 codes to lab and image orders?



Lab ordering shortcuts

Diagnoses: The diagnoses tab of the details panel allows you to quickly select diagnoses that have been recorded within the patient's chart. If you select an ICD-10 code, the diagnosis will automatically be added to the order.  If you select an ICD-9 code, you will first need to upgrade the code to ICD-10. Once you have selected a specific ICD-10 code, the diagnosis will be added to the order.  For detailed instructions on adding ICD-10 codes, please see: How do I add ICD-10 codes to lab and image orders?.


  • Easily save frequently ordered tests such as A1C, CBC, etc.


Selecting a Template during the ordering process will automatically populate your order with associated diagnoses and tests for the Lab that you've selected. Templates can be kept personal or may be shared with your practice.  Please note that if you have previously created any templates containing ICD-9 diagnosis codes, you will be prompted to update the diagnoses. For more information, see: How do I create and edit lab order templates?

To create a new template for your currently selected lab, fill in tests and diagnosis and select Save as Template, available from the down arrow to the right of the Save button. Select Allow practice to use template to share with your practice. 

Recent: The recent section in your details pane lists all recent tests ordered for this patient. Tests ordered from the lab you have selected for the current order can be clicked to add to your order in progress. 

Complete your order

1. Select Next to proceed to enter test specific details such as specimen collection information or additional diagnoses attached to the test. At this point you may also add any relevant comments or questions by filling out the Test note section.

2. If collecting specimens in-house, select + Add a specimen.

3. The test details screen will repeat per test that you are ordering

Time-saving tip: Use the quick preview feature to review recent results to determine whether your order should contain a follow-up test. Select Open this lab result to open a new tab with the result you're interested in.

Review your order summary


  • Remove any tests that you decide you don't need - select the x next to the test in the summary

  • Supply payment information. Insurance information is automatically transferred from your patient’s profile.

  • Reconcile any missing patient information

  • Assign primary and ordering providers

  • Add a note to the order


Reconcile missing information



Note: If you notice that your patient’s insurance information is incorrect or missing, you can easily jump to the patient’s information by selecting ‘Go to patient profile’ from the chart navigation. Once you save the updated information, you will automatically be returned to the ordering screen.

2. Once back in the order, your validation messages will automatically clear. If you have electronically connected your practice to a lab through Practice Fusion, you’ll now be given the option to “Send” your lab order. Otherwise, select “Print.”

You must click “Send” or “Print” in order for the lab order to count for your Meaningful Use measures.

Associating manually entered lab results

If you need to associate non-electronic test results with this order, select Actions from this screen and select Enter lab results to manually enter structured results, see this thread for more information on Manually Entering Lab Results. Otherwise, you can expect electronic results from your diagnostic partner to arrive directly in your EHR once the lab or study is completed.

Printing Specimen Labels

To print specimen labels, you may either:

  • Select the Labels link from the left-hand navigation

  • Click Next in the bottom right and the option will be provided to you. See more information on creating specimen labels for your lab orders here.

Viewing submitted orders

Submitted orders may be found in your patient's Timeline or Quick Preview, along with a submission status.

Note: These lab orders will only be transmitted electronically if you are bound to a lab that accepts orders electronically. If you are not, you will have to save and print your lab order.




Labs & Imaging

  1. How do I sign up for a lab integration?
  2. How do I add or create a lab order?
  6. How do I view my lab results?
  7. Why can’t I sign my lab/imaging result?
  9. How do I manually enter lab or imaging results?
  10. How can I connect to imaging centers?
  11. How do I create or add an imaging order?
  12. How can I share lab results with my patients?
  13. How do I suggest a lab or imaging center?
  14. Printing lab orders when insurance information unavailable
  16. Why are lab results coming in "Unassigned?"
  21. What is structured data or a structured result?
  23. How do I delete a lab order?
  27. How do I create custom lab test?
  30. How can I print lab results?
  31. How do I delete a signed lab or encounter?
  32. How do I delete a lab result?
  37. How do I create a LabCorp order?
  39. How do I create a Quest lab order?

Feedback and Knowledge Base