2026_Q3

LabHQ Change Summary 2026 Q3

Update Identifier:

2026_Q3

Scheduled Deployment Date:

Tuesday 29th September 2026

1. Overview

The next update to LabHQ will include new features, improvements and defect fixes to optimise your LIMS experience. This change summary provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect, including a list of changes and impact assessments.

1.1 Impact Assessment Guide

Software changes can vary widely, therefore an impact assessment is carried out for each change using the following impact scoring system.

Each feature is assessed across four key criteria, with scores assigned on a scale from 1 (Low Impact) to 5 (High Impact). The total impact score is the sum of all individual category scores.

Compliance & Regulatory

1 - No effect on compliance or regulatory processes.

3 - Enhances compliance processes but does not require revalidation.

5 - Direct impact on regulatory adherence, requiring revalidation.
User Experience & Training

1 - No training required, feature is intuitive.

3 - Some training or documentation updates may be needed.

5 - Major changes requiring user training or new SOPs.
Data Integrity & Security

1 - No effect on data security or integrity.

3 - Enhances security or data handling but does not require urgent attention.

5 - Introduces critical security updates or requires policy changes.
Configuration

1 - No changes required.

3 - Some configuration needed.

5 - Significant setup or reconfiguration needed.

Total Impact Score Calculation

Total score = Sum of all category scores (Max: 20, Min: 4)

Based on the total score, the impact level is classified as:

4-8: Low impact (Minimal changes needed, no disruption)
9-12: Moderate impact (Some configuration or training required)
13-16: High impact (Significant changes, compliance involvement may be required)
17-20: Critical impact (Requires validation, training and/or rollout planning)

2. Production Environment Updates

This details the features and defect fixes that will be available in production from the scheduled deployment date.

2.1 Features

The following features will be available in this update:

Area: Inventory

1662 - Stock IDs
- Each stock record is now assigned a unique, read-only Stock ID when it is received. Stock IDs are searchable and displayed throughout inventory workflows and related audit entries.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Uniquely identify stock records, including records with the same item or batch number
  - Find and select the correct stock record more easily during adjustment, usage and disposal
  - Improve stock traceability through consistent identifiers and audit records
- Impact score:
  - 5 - Low impact

2955 - Stock storage location
- An optional physical storage location can now be recorded against a stock record when it is received and updated later. The location is shown in key inventory views and changes are audited.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Help lab staff locate stock more quickly
  - Keep physical storage details visible across inventory workflows
  - Maintain an audit history when a stock location changes
- Impact score:
  - 6 - Low impact

Area: Portal

1712 - Download & control access to attachments from the portal
- External users can now view and download job and sample attachments made available to them through the LabHQ Portal. Lab users control which attachments are externally visible, with attachments remaining internal by default.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Share approved supporting files directly through the portal
  - Keep internal attachments hidden from external users
  - Allow external users to retrieve files without assistance from the lab
- Impact score:
  - 8 - Low impact

1729 - Notify external users when new attachment available
- External users who have opted in to notifications can now receive an email when a job or sample attachment is made available to them in the portal.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Alert relevant portal users when a new file is ready
  - Identify the related job or sample and attachment in the notification
  - Avoid notifications for internal-only attachments
- Impact score:
  - 7 - Low impact

Area: Sample Identification

2725 - Find sample by scanning barcode
- Sample labels can now include barcodes or QR codes that help users open the correct sample record by scanning its identifier. A scanning mode supports connected barcode scanners using non-URL identifiers.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Locate sample information without typing the Sample ID
  - Support both one-dimensional barcodes and two-dimensional codes
  - Move from a scanned sample to its next available workflow step
- Impact score:
  - 7 - Low impact

3085 - Sample label pre-sets
- Administrators can now select predefined layouts when configuring sample labels, including options for Code 128, Code 39, Data Matrix and QR codes.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Configure common label formats more quickly
  - Reduce the manual setup needed for different barcode types
- Impact score:
  - 5 - Low impact

Area: Reporting & Certificates

2750 - Manage certificates
- The Manage Certificates area now supports generating certificates for primary and additional clients, managing existing certificates, selecting the test outputs included for each sample, choosing the client in print settings, and auditing certificate generation and regeneration.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Manage job and sample certificates from a central workflow
  - Create client-specific certificates with the appropriate test outputs
  - Improve oversight through certificate generation and regeneration audit records
- Impact score:
  - 11 - Moderate impact

Area: System Settings

2808 - Simplify application settings
- Application settings have been reorganised into clearer groups, Administration has been renamed to System Settings, and User Accounts now has its own main menu entry.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Find configuration options more quickly
  - Navigate user accounts and system settings through clearer menu entries
  - Review related settings in logical groups
- Impact score:
  - 5 - Low impact

Area: Guided Tutorials

2800 - Guided tutorials
- New guided tutorials introduce users to configuring test methods, test suites and products through step-by-step guidance within LabHQ.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Help users understand key configuration concepts while working in the application
  - Provide guided support for setting up test methods, test suites and products
  - Make it easier for new users to become familiar with LabHQ
- Impact score:
  - 6 - Low impact

Area: Job Submission

2782 - Improve app job submission
- Job submission has been updated with a guided, step-by-step workflow for recording job and sample information. Users can enter configured custom fields, edit the generated Job ID and assigned tests, remove samples before submission and review the completed job before submitting it.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Complete job submission through a clearer, guided workflow
  - Record custom information and adjust Job IDs, tests and samples before submission
  - Review job and sample details before creating the final records
- Impact score:
  - 7 - Low impact

Area: Service Information

2682 - Status pages
- LabHQ now provides clearer status pages when the service is undergoing maintenance or encounters an error.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Give users clearer information when LabHQ is temporarily unavailable
  - Provide a friendlier experience during maintenance and error conditions
- Impact score:
  - 4 - Low impact

3126 - Public roadmap access
- The public LabHQ product roadmap is now easier to access through the application About window and the support site.
- Key benefits & improvements:
  - Keep up to date with planned features and recent releases
  - Open the product roadmap directly from familiar LabHQ resources
- Impact score:
  - 4 - Low impact

2.2 Defect Fixes

This update will address the following issues:

3051 - Sanitise sample label fields
- Sample data used in label printing is now sanitised to prevent ZPL control characters from injecting printer commands while preserving the displayed sample information.

3091 - Jobs count showing 0 on admin panel
- Corrected the Admin Panel to display the organization-wide job count instead of incorrectly showing zero for some organizations.

3151 - Higher number of test methods causing 500 exception
- Resolved an error that could prevent users from opening test suites and related product information when a large number of test methods were assigned.

3231 - Product Setup - Spec desc length
- Corrected an issue that caused longer product specification descriptions to be cut off.

3278 - Notifications still being sent after removal of user via admin panel
- Corrected notification handling so users removed from an organization no longer continue to receive its notification emails.

3303 - Header responsiveness
- Improved the application header so its navigation and actions adapt more reliably to narrower supported display sizes without introducing unwanted horizontal scrolling.

3307 - Unable to create user account on new org
- Added validation requiring usernames to contain at least three characters, with a clear warning, preventing the account-creation error encountered on new organisations.

3365 - Portal emails contain main app links
- Corrected portal notifications so emails sent to external users no longer include links to the main LabHQ application.

3386 - Settings help buttons lead to settings changes
- Corrected settings help links so opening documentation no longer changes the associated setting or incorrectly marks the settings form as changed.

3388 - Unable to scroll receive samples
- Removed the layout constraint that prevented the Receive Samples screen from scrolling on smaller displays, allowing all sample rows to remain accessible.

3. Latest Updates & Documentation

For more detailed information on this update, including latest updates and test certificates, please refer to the following: