Part 2 will discuss the advantages of LIMS over outdated and paper-based systems.

LIMS Advantages

• Coordination of resources, such as personnel and equipment, participating in a specific analysis.
• Management of samples and testing, leading to reporting results and generating certificates of analysis or patient reports.
• Management of biological samples and requests for the creation of aliquots, derivatives, packing, and shipping, including tracking storage space.
• Management of instrument calibration and maintenance schedules.
• Automation of consumables and reagents ordering, and schedule staff test method training.
• Management of clinical trial protocols and specifications, including appointments, treatment groups, facilities, and kits.
• Allow data availability to authorized personnel in various departments and automatically send alerts to staff regarding reports or certificates.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs by confirming every workflow stage is properly completed by authorized personnel prior to permitting proceeding to next stage.
• Full tracing of lots and inventory through support of lot genealogy requirements and chain of custody.
• Management and tracking of auditable electronic records, ensuring chain of custody transparency.

ELN and SDMS

Laboratories using LIMS with an ELN (electronic laboratory notebook) solution give personnel an efficient method for accurately recording, reporting, and sharing results and experiments anywhere in the world. This eases adherence to SOPs, easing the searching, mining, and analysis of data and results.

In conjunction with the LIMS and ELN, and SDMS (scientific data management system) will typically perform as a central database for a laboratory’s data and documents, facilitating finding and accessing data from various departments and sites.

LIMS

LIMS cloud deployment combined with mobile connectivity allows the collective sharing of data available to authorized personnel from lab staff to chief executives wherever they are on computers, smartphones, and tablets.

LIMS deployments have been effective in diverse industries that are under stringent regulatory requirements, including automotive, bio-pharmaceuticals, chemicals, environmental, food and beverage, petrochemical, and utilities, and assist in complying with both national and international regulatory requirements.

Alpha 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.