Supporting productivity and efficiency of modern lab analytical research, contract research, manufacturing, quality assurance, quality control, research and development, and technical services, a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) interfaces with a lab’s automated systems, measurement, and analytical instruments, and software to manage and oversee complex laboratory processes.

A LIMS connects to other systems via direct database communications, file transfer, and web services. Today’s LIMS solutions are capable of working with enterprise software, including accounting and inventory tools and ERP platforms, to automate instrument calibration and maintenance schedules, the ordering of consumables and reagents, and the management of invoices and staff training.

LIMS’ ability to interface and connect laboratories and enterprise ecosystems can significantly decrease or render unnecessary manual data entry and reporting. It also allows the management of high-content and high-throughput workflows, letting users access diverse datasets, which increases available intelligence and improves business decision-making.

Proven LIMS solutions promote data security, integrity, and end-to-end traceability, assisting organizations involved in regulated industries to comply with requirements and standards and decrease delays during audits.   

Benefits of LIMS

Contained in silos for laboratory workflow management, paper-based and other outdated systems are vulnerable to human errors when lab personnel performs data entry, transcription, reporting, and filing. Moreover, the creation, storage, and management of files or paper records can be time-consuming and expensive. Data that is on paper or stored in various systems are extremely difficult to compare or analyze in context. Thus, much of the potential intelligence that can be derived from data is not easily accessible for processing and analysis. 

Part 2 will discuss the advantages of LIMS over outdated and paper-based systems.

STARLIMS Integrated Solution

Implementing state-of-the-art technology, STARLIMS provides a totally integrated solution that incorporates LIMS, Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN), Scientific Data Management System (SDMS), Advanced Analytics, and Mobile within a single application. This innovation makes building and maintaining custom interfaces required by third-party tools unnecessary.

Alpha Engineering LIMS Implementation

Alpha has been involved with the implementation of over 50 LIMS systems ranging in size from small, “off-the-shelf” software systems to very large, highly customized, multi-functional systems, including STARLIMS, for both governmental agencies and private enterprises. For affordable client-focused network consulting services and solutions, please call Alpha today at (410) 295-9500.