When you read the word LIMS, what comes to your mind? Though the acronym might seem intimidating, LIMS stands for Laboratory Information Management System and as the name suggests they help to manage data in a lab. They are used to help sort, flag, or otherwise keep track of any information that is generated inside the lab. Labs in an increasingly digital system find LIMS software progressively more necessary. But you may question why a lab would use a system like this in the first place. So we’ll go through some things LIMS can do, to help you better understand why a lab would be interested in getting one.
LIMS create a central area where you can store data for your lab, including test results or manuals for instrumentation. In short, they’re wonderful for any lab which is becoming more digital. They’re also a good option for any lab that’s looking to put more of their information online, to make it easier to access for customers or to reduce the amount of paper waste generated.
The world of LIMS is as wide and varied as the lab world, with some designed to specialize in food testing and others designed to assist in the healthcare sector. It’s a challenge for a lab director to decide what system works best for their lab. Some LIMS can work within many regulations and remain compliant with them. LIMS that can work with each customer base no matter the industry within these regulations work great for any lab, but it isn’t always the main factor in choosing a LIMS. Security, compliance with systems (such as HIPAA or ISO/IEC), and reliability are all factors for any lab seeking a new system.
Many labs find that a LIMS can help streamline their workflow and keep data controlled and secure. Though the servers aren’t on-site in a cloud-based system, it can be even more safe than one that’s on-site. LIMS often require security keys from a particular computer and locations as well as particular login credentials which change frequently. In this way, it’s much more secure than the average on-site server. Many of these have firewalls and other security systems in place to prevent hacking into a lab’s data system.
Modern times have made it a necessity for any labs wanting to go into certain sectors to be more regulated. This is done to keep consumers and federal agencies happy. LIMS for particular sectors can be designed with regulations in mind. Healthcare LIMS, for example, can be made with HIPAA in mind, while ones for medical devices may have CFR 21 Part 11 in mind. As previously mentioned, some LIMS exist that are broadly compatible with a number of regulations in mind, and it’s an important factor to keep in mind as a lab manager.
Labs need a system that’s reliable to keep their data in order. When choosing a software LIMS, there’s a question of whether it will be possible to access data in a data cloud by anyone. Some LIMS allow you the ability to choose who can and cannot access the information in your lab. These systems sometimes keep maintenance to off-hours to cause minimal interference with labs, another positive for reliability. These systems can still go down in certain cases: sometimes a server crashes or an outage in the lab prevents access to the cloud. However, LIMS often have a system where they backup data in cases of possible tampering or outages, which helps keep the information reliable.
One issue LIMS can have is instrument integration. Many labs wish to move to LIMS that allow integration with instrumentation they currently or will soon acquire. Some labs want to generate reports based on data input, or create an invoice for a customer. However, not every system can integrate with the software or instruments your lab may currently use. LIMS that use Application Program Interface or API can communicate with different programs to retrieve data and put it into reports, customer interfaces, and so on. An API can mean using your LIMS to interact with your spreadsheet program and pulling the data into the system directly rather than having to copy and paste data from your previously input data. APIs are also how LIMS can interact with instrumentation. They can be useful in any digitized lab that relies on electronic information. An API is necessary if you don’t want to open dozens of different programs on a computer just to compile data into a single program.
Unfortunately, APIs have a tendency towards making LIMS more pricey. As a result, there can be a lot of apprehension about using them to manage all of your laboratory data. Part of finding the right LIMS for your lab, if you choose to get one, is finding one in the right price range. Our LIMS, QBench, has an API which allows it to integrate with many programs and websites at a relatively low cost, for example. However, there are many reasons to be interested in a LIMS system, and cost is just one. You have to determine what factors are most important for your lab should you get one.
Are there more features that make LIMS appealing for a lab? Yes, not only can they keep track of data and samples, they can send out emails to clients to let them know a test has been completed. They can help you with quality control in the lab. LIMS can help you communicate with your team through quality management systems and get feedback about what works well and what your team still struggles with. A LIMS can let you know what step of the process your samples are in or what tests they have passed or failed. This can help make the process of creating Certificates Of Analysis, COAs far faster.
There are issues LIMS can’t fix, however. It cannot, for example, fix communication issues in your team. It cannot help with physical safety hazards, and while some systems can let you know if a reagent has expired, it doesn’t mean that a technician can’t use it anyways. Some LIMS can reorder a test to be done after it fails the first time, some cannot. At the end of the day, a LIMS requires a human touch to utilize it to its full capabilities, much like any lab. But the benefits of one are tremendous. LIMS can make any labs faster, reduce errors, and make them more reliable.
We hope that this has answered your question of what a LIMS is while we discussed benefits of this system. In our next article, we’ll discuss whether a LIMS might be good for your lab, as well as some of the benefits and costs of getting one. We hope we see you then!