Tosoh AIA-900 LIS & EHR Connection (ASTM)

Quick answer

Yes. The Tosoh AIA-900 immunoassay analyzer (analyser) talks to a host over ASTM E1381/E1394 on its serial port, usually bridged to the network with a serial device server. Catenix's gateway acts as that host: it answers the AIA-900's queries with the tests ordered in your EHR, so a barcoded tube is run for the right tests without keying them in, then receives the results, files control runs as QC, matches patient results to their orders and sends them to your EHR or LIS. This driver runs in production.

The AIA-900 is a compact automated enzyme immunoassay analyzer from Tosoh Bioscience, used for tests such as thyroid, fertility and other hormone panels. In many labs its host connection is used only to send results, while tests are selected by hand on the ORDER screen. Turning on host query removes that step.

What	How Catenix handles it
Interface	ASTM E1381 (link) and E1394 (records), host communication protocol
Physical link	RS-232 serial; commonly bridged to TCP/IP with a serial device server
Orders	Host query: the AIA-900 asks for work by barcode; Catenix answers with the EHR's orders. New orders can also be sent unprompted
Order mode at the analyzer	ORDER screen in BARCODE mode
Test codes	Site-assigned test file numbers, mapped to your EHR's codes at setup
Quality control	Control samples identified and filed as QC, with level and lot, never as patient results
Unfinalized results	Results the analyzer marks as pending can be held or sent, by lab policy

Analyzer settings that matter

On the AIA-900 host settings, query to the host must be enabled with automatic download by barcode, and real-time upload should include controls so QC reaches Catenix as well as patient results. Staff then load tubes in the ORDER screen's BARCODE mode. We walk through these settings with your team; they are a few switches, not a service visit.

Because AIA-900 test file numbers are assigned per site, we ask for a printout of your test file during setup and map each number to the EHR's test code.

Keeping the link up

The Catenix gateway is supervised: if the network drops, it reopens the connection on its own, and a watchdog checks that it is listening. Results received while the internet is down are stored on site and forwarded when it returns.

Results and QC in Catenix

Patient results are matched to their order by accession number and sent to the EHR. Control runs are graded with Westgard rules against your targets, and a failed run holds patient results for that test. Every message is kept with the result, so you can show exactly what the analyzer sent and when.

Tosoh, AIA-900 and Tosoh Bioscience are trademarks of their owners. Catenix is an independent connectivity provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by Tosoh.

Questions people ask

Can the Tosoh AIA-900 download orders from an EHR?

Yes, through a host such as Catenix. With host query enabled, the AIA-900 asks for the work for each barcode and Catenix answers with the tests ordered in the EHR.

Does the AIA-900 need a network port?

It connects over RS-232 serial. A small serial device server puts that port on your network so the Catenix gateway can reach it.

Why are no QC results arriving from the AIA-900?

The analyzer only sends controls if real-time upload is set to include them. Once set, Catenix files them as QC automatically.

Do I need to send you anything to start?

A printout of the AIA-900 test file, the EHR or LIS you use, and remote access to the PC that will run the gateway.

Product and company names are trademarks of their owners and are used for identification only. Catenix moves, stores and displays results with traceability; it does not interpret results or give clinical advice. Reviewed October 2026.

Tell us your setup

Send us your analyser and the system you want results in, and we will confirm how it connects, usually within one working day. Ask about your setup.

Connecting a Tosoh AIA-900 to your LIS or EHR