What Are Different Types Of LIMS?

Modern laboratories handle large volumes of data, tests, and analyses. To maintain proficiency and relevance, they must adapt to new technologies to help them better handle their operations and workflow.

A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is software designed to help manage laboratory operations. The LIMS can automate the workflow, manage samples, integrate instruments, and manage lab data.

According to Sapio Science, who are among the top 5 LIMS vendors out there, LIMS is very beneficial in making lab operations effective, accurate, and reliable. With the aid of the software, samples can get analyzed effectively, and timely results generated, transmitted, and documented with terrible exactness.

Types Of LIMS

Laboratory Information Management System varies depending on the nature of the lab. The market is flooded with many LIMS software that carries out dynamic operations. Therefore, each lab gets a customized information management system to suit its requirements.

However, LIMS software is designed to perform some essential functions in any Laboratory. Some standard functions include storage, data and sample management, and workflow automation.

Benefits Of LIMS

• Sample Management

LIMS sample management system plays a critical role in managing laboratory workflow by providing accurate documentation and identification of samples. Sample management involves tracking a sample since it gets its way into the lab throughout its entire stay in the lab.

The sample management system keeps track of all information about a sample. These include:

• Arrival date for the sample
• Who recorded and received the sample
• What the sample contains
• The lab technicians are assigned the sample
• The analysis process of the sample is at
• All the steps the sample needs to undergo
• The storage requirement for the sample

Relevant dates for processing and expiry.

Sample management is crucial in reducing samples’ mix-up, loss, and contamination. With this system, lab experts can easily track the location and movement of samples within a laboratory.

• Instrument Integration

A laboratory information management system (LIMS) is also valuable for instrument integration. The LIMS software can set control files in instruments to determine their functioning.

Instrument integration ensures that the various lab instruments are adjusted to meet the correct tests. This reduces the time taken to process a sample and result reporting. LIMS instrument integration system ensures data from various instruments are accurately recorded and safely transmitted.

• Procedure Execution

A configured LIMS can be used to provide appropriate lab procedures and methods used in conducting lab tests. The procedure execution capability offers control over all the lab test operations.

The procedure execution function is critical in offering support to lab technicians, allowing them to set all the necessary step-by-step procedures and processes required in the lab. The system captures all steps and guidelines for safely and effectively conducting lab operations.

Lab technicians can access real-time data downloading in the analysis process in a laboratory using the procedure execution mode.

• Data Management

Labs handle voluminous data and files, making it challenging to manage such information manually. This is why the data management function has been incorporated into the LIMS to ensure the smooth handling of large volumes of data.

LIMS data management feature helps in data configuration and storing, improving lab efficiency. The data management system uses XML format to archive standardized representation and original raw data files.

LIMS data management system makes the standardized data accessible using multiple computers and restoring archived files. Lab technicians can use the data management system of LIMS to store data for extended periods and retrieve and share archived files from multiple computers.

LIMS data management operations have brought to life paperless laboratories. This has dramatically reduced lab paper trails, making the workflow smooth, effective, fast, and reliable, thus rendering lab operations less costly and more accurate.

• Workflow Management

Complex laboratories that handle bulk sampling and research and have numerous technicians and employees can richly benefit from the workflow capabilities of LIMS software. All functions within a lab can be streamlined and managed in a central location, reducing the need for many administrators.

LIMS workflow management function enables task distribution among team members, gives proper procedure and guidelines to be followed depending on the sample, suggests the instruments to be used, and directs the overall steps in the sample analysis cycle.