Thursday 3 May 2018

What An LIMS Is And How It's Used

By Karen Smith


When it comes to research laboratories, no matter what kind of science is taking place, there are going to be massive amounts of data and information that needs to be recorded. That is why all modern labs are equipped with something called a LIMS, or a laboratory information management system. LIS or LMS, laboratory information system and laboratory management system respectively, all serve similar purposes, but it is important to be aware of the subtle differences between them.

These information systems are types of software that are used in all modern laboratories around the world. In order to manage all of the data and information that these sophisticated and complex facilities go through on a daily basis, these systems play a crucial role. The job of software like this is to support all of the many different operations that the lab undergoes, making higher levels of research not only possible but also much easier.

Workflow is a big task that these programs are expected to take care of. There is also an incredible amount of data that goes into them which is used in a number of different ways. Depending on the type of lab, there are many other tasks that software like this might be used for.

People might not realize that these systems have been around for a long time. At first, their only use was sample tracking. This had evolved into the advanced software that labs use today.

Although there is a general consensus on what an information system for a laboratory is, people don't always agree on some of the finer aspects of what defines this type of program. People have to use their own interpretation to see what the definition means to them personally. It is important to know what a certain kind of laboratory defines as an information system as opposed to other kinds.

While many scientists like to make clear the distinctions between the various type of specialty management systems, they are all basically there for the same reasons. Some, however, do have special tools that help them deal with particular areas of research to help the lab. These can include anything from commercial, research, forensic, and clinical analyses.

Scientific studies have been growing more advanced ever since they were first performed, and so the software that researchers use to record their data has become more advanced with the studies themselves. This is necessary for the systems' functions to be able to keep up with the researchers' needs, and so that they can bring together the core pillars of science. As their uses have grown, the different kinds of software have become more similar in nature.

When things had to be entered manually in a lab, there were many things that could go wrong. A single error in the transcription of data could be disastrous. This is why having things automatically recorded removes the potential for a huge amount of errors to be made.




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