> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://q.odontox.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Laboratories

> Register dental laboratories, assign them to lab work orders, and track turnaround times for outsourced clinical work.

The Laboratories section lets you maintain a list of the dental labs your clinic works with. Once registered, a lab can be assigned to lab work orders — making it easy to track which lab is handling each case and when to expect it back.

<Note>
  **Admins, Doctors, and Receptionists** with the appropriate permission can view the laboratory list.
</Note>

## Adding a laboratory

1. Open **Settings > Laboratories**.
2. Click **Add Lab**.
3. Fill in the details:

| Field            | Description                                    |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**         | Lab name (e.g. Bright Smile Dental Lab)        |
| **Contact name** | Primary point of contact                       |
| **Phone**        | Lab phone number                               |
| **Email**        | Lab email for order confirmations              |
| **Address**      | Physical address (optional)                    |
| **Notes**        | Specialties, turnaround policy, or other notes |

4. Click **Save**.

## Assigning a lab to a work order

When creating a lab work order from **Lab Work** in the sidebar, you can select a registered lab from a dropdown. The system records which lab is handling the case and tracks the expected return date.

<Tip>
  Add a note to each lab with their typical turnaround time — for example, "3–5 business days for crowns". This helps staff set accurate expected return dates when creating work orders.
</Tip>

## Editing and removing labs

Select any lab in the list to update its details. Removing a lab does not affect existing lab work orders — historical records retain the lab name.

## Related articles

* [Lab Work](/clinical/lab-cases)
* [Staff Management](/admin/staff-management)