| LIMS software (short for laboratory information | | | | doing something else which is incredibly important: |
| management system) refers to a variety of | | | | reducing the possibility of human error. |
| different laboratory software systems which are | | | | Facilities which use older types of data |
| designed to streamline the workflow of routine | | | | management systems face a substantially higher |
| tasks and processes in the laboratory, as well as | | | | risk of transcription errors and other operator |
| in other environments. These LIMS systems are | | | | errors causing serious problems and delays in |
| generally rather versatile and configurable, making | | | | laboratory workflow - a well configured LIMS |
| them adaptable to a wide variety of different | | | | system can reduce the possibility of these types |
| applications in or out of the laboratory | | | | of error to nearly none. |
| environment. | | | | Since these software systems are for the most |
| The primary uses to which these data | | | | part highly configurable and scalable, they provide |
| management systems are put include the tracking | | | | an excellent solution to data management, |
| of samples, instruments, consumables and | | | | storage and retrieval across organization whose |
| inventory management, process tracking and | | | | needs range from only a handful of workstations |
| auditing and invoicing and reporting applications. A | | | | (or even a single workstation) all the way up to |
| well configured system using LIMS software can | | | | laboratory software suitable for operations which |
| be set up to integrate with instruments in the | | | | require hundreds or even thousands of different |
| laboratory which are capable of PC-compatible | | | | users to be able to access a LIMS software |
| output and with other common laboratory | | | | system from anywhere in the world using a |
| software including database applications and | | | | terminal or a web based interface. |
| spreadsheet software for the storage, retrieval | | | | Anyone who has made their career in the |
| and management of the data generated in the | | | | scientific or clinical research sector likely already |
| course of laboratory work. | | | | knows how powerful of a tool it can provide for |
| This software is especially useful in performing | | | | laboratory personnel or for that matter, any |
| auditing functions to ensure efficient operations | | | | facility which needs to handle large volumes of |
| and regulatory compliance, saving significant | | | | data or materials, especially where accurate and |
| amounts of time and effort for laboratory | | | | reliable tracking of these materials and/or |
| personnel and compliance officers as well as | | | | processes is crucial. |
| laboratory administrative staff. These systems | | | | LIMS software offers the kind of versatility and |
| allow for far greater efficiency, always a concern; | | | | functionality which few (if any) other types of |
| but something which is an increasingly important | | | | laboratory software has to make every step of |
| factor given the ever higher throughputs | | | | workflow smoother and more efficient. These |
| demanded of laboratories in general and | | | | software systems have applications far beyond |
| laboratory personnel in particular. | | | | the laboratory as well and are now in use in many |
| LIMS software increases efficiency by allowing for | | | | manufacturing processes in industries including the |
| a smoother integration of existing laboratory | | | | production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, among |
| software with laboratory automation solutions | | | | other sectors which have a need to carefully and |
| including automatic sample handling equipment and | | | | accurately track inventories, processes and |
| other time and labor saving devices as well as | | | | regulatory compliance. |