January 07, 2019
The advent of technology has dramatically changed lab operations. A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) has been an enabler of such change, transforming manual lab operations to software managed workflows and systems. It has successfully eliminated the need for manually recording the data in paper notebooks and spreadsheets, thereby making laboratories more efficient.
Lims Capabilities Beyond lab data management, STARLIMS is a comprehensive solution that improves quality and safety throughout the entire product lifecycle. Configurable features help laboratories from sample intake to delivery of accurate results, driving smarter decision making for your business and customers throughout the entire process. Laboratory Information Management Systems or LIMS are tailor-made to help labs accomplish these goals efficiently and effectively. These systems are designed to support multiple projects and users in various laboratory types from biopharma all the way through to biofuels and manufacturing. The definition of LIMS is in its name. Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), also called Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), are software products designed to help labs keep track of their equipment, samples, and test results, manage their workflows/protocols, create compliance reports, and analyze findings.
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS): An introduction
A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is a software-based solution that can help labs effectively manage laboratory data, thereby increasing the efficiency of various lab operations. A LIMS acts as an interface between the laboratory staff and the database where all the information is stored.
LIMS entered the market of supporting technologies in the 1980s. The first in-house LIMS was developed by large organizations for handling some of the basic lab operations like data retrieval and reporting. Later, the remarkable progress in Information Technology, specifically the introduction of a personal computer, gave birth to the commercial client/server LIMS. Today, a LIMS has become a necessity for every lab interested to electronically manage data, automate workflows, and enhance efficiency.
Why use a LIMS?
In today’s competitive era, every other lab is striving to produce the best results possible from a technical point of view. They need to reduce turnaround time, enhance customer satisfaction, and meet the regulatory requirements of their industry.
The main focus of a LIMS is to increase the efficiency of lab operations by reducing manual tasks. Each LIMS available in the market today may vary from each other depending on the LIMS vendor and the target industry. Some of the core lab functionalities that a LIMS typically takes care of includes: Amiga explorer.
- Sample management
• Storage management
• Lab inventory management (reagents, analytical instruments, etc.)
• Workflow management
• Work allocation
• Report and Invoice generation
• Instrument integration
How to choose a LIMS?
Selecting a LIMS that best meets your requirements has become difficult than ever due to a number of options available in the LIMS market. So how do you go about deciding which LIMS is right for your lab?
Some of the factors to consider while choosing a LIMS are:
Industry Type: The type of industry under which your lab functions or your lab type (QA/QC or R&D) is a very important factor to consider while choosing a LIMS. This can help you decide the LIMS that will support your lab environment. There is a diverse range of LIMS available, most of which are customized per the workflows or the regulations followed by the various industries (for example, food and beverage, cannabis, clinical research, etc). Therefore, every aspect of the lab including data management, workflow automation, and regulatory requirements should be considered while selecting a LIMS.
Artifice the magic set editor for mac. IT Infrastructure: The decision to implement a LIMS typically depends on the coordination between different departments, involving not only the lab but also the IT department. It is important that the IT department must have the infrastructure to support the LIMS deployment. Alternatively, the lab can consider choosing a cloud-based LIMS that can be easily accessed, 24×7, using any internet-ready device, without support from IT personnel.
Budget: It is one of the most important factors that govern the LIMS selection process. The core responsibility of a lab is the generation of quality data under the estimated budget and time. It is advisable to choose a LIMS that does not require huge capital investment.
In short, choosing a LIMS requires careful consideration of the various factors that could influence its successful and sustainable deployment and use.
Benefits of a LIMS
- Some of the key benefits of a LIMS are:
• Enables workflow automation, thereby eliminating human errors
• Enables flexible configuration/setup
• Centralizes access and storage of quality control data
• Facilitates labs to meet regulatory compliance
• Tracks laboratory inventory
• Enables downstream data analysis
Conclusion
Industries, such as food and beverage, healthcare, cannabis, clinical, biobanking, etc., are evolving with time. The challenges that arise in the path of these industries with respect to data management are also never-ending. Massive amounts of data can cause significant data management problems and solutions are needed to manage it. One such data management solution is a LIMS. However, selecting a LIMS is not an easy job. It requires careful consideration of several factors such as requirements, budget, IT infrastructure, etc. A well-defined LIMS is central to a range of lab operations which ensures enhanced productivity and high-quality data. Additionally, it should be able to manage various documents required during audits. To conclude, a LIMS is a solution that can yield great profits if employed correctly.
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