Redesigning a Basic Laboratory Information System for the Global South

Laboratory information systems (LIS) optimize information storage and processing for clinics and hospitals. In the recent past, developers of LIS for the global south have worked under the assumption that computing environments will be very limited. However, the computing resources in the area have been rapidly enriched. This has also changed the expectations that users have about the LIS interface and functionality. In this paper, we provide a case study of C4G BLIS that has been in operation for nearly a decade in seven African countries. In two studies that included 51 participants from three African countries, we redesigned the LIS to better suit the changing technical landscape and user needs and evaluated the new design. The study procedure, usability metrics and lessons learned from our evaluation provide a model that other researchers can use. The findings provide empirical insights that can benefit designers and developers of LIS in the global south. The results also highlight the need for adding usability specifications for international standard organizations.