How does LIMS software benefit your lab’s productivity & best LIMS software?
January 24, 2022The healthcare industry is growing phenomenally, and so is the laboratory segment. A laboratory has to keep real-time track of everything, whether testing, research, invoicing, instrument management, or day-to-day tasks. And therefore, every laboratory needs the best lab management software or Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS Software) to manage its operations better.
What is a Laboratory Information Management System?
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is a type of software that enables laboratories to manage samples, test results efficiently, and other associated data to improve the laboratory’s overall productivity.
It also helps standardise the workflow, procedures, and tests while providing total control of the process. What’s more, instruments can also be integrated into the LIMS to automate the test data collection, provided they are operated and calibrated by the trained staff only.
In this article, we are going to talk about the great benefits that LIMS software offers to laboratories and the best LIMS software solutions:
SAMPLE MANAGEMENT
From sample creation to final reporting, LIMS helps manage the complete lifecycle with efficiency.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Greater throughput
- Accurate & timely results
- Facilitated compliance
- Reduced data entry work
- Improved data quality & integrity
- Enhanced employee and customer satisfaction
ANALYSIS MANAGEMENT
A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) offers several benefits related to analysis management that ensure samples are within specification.
In case of any issue, the LIMS can take automatic action or send notifications to resolve the issue. The state of the sample relies typically on the collective status of its analyses.
Analysis management also facilitates
- Violation handling
- Validation
- QC batching
- Calculation
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Many research & development (R&D) labs are focused on formulations, studies and projects. LIMS project management helps R&D labs to organise their samples and analyses into different groups for better analysis.
Considered essential for the R&D labs, LIMS project management helps to improve:
- Project execution
- Cross-collaboration
- Communication
Also Read: How legacy healthcare systems can lead patients’ data at high risk?
BETTER VENDOR/CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT
Many LIMS software assist in collaboration and communication between primary and third-party labs engaged in outsourced analyses.
LIMS software can safely initiate a data transfer or data entry for third-party users, besides allowing results from third-party labs to be automatically loaded, before or after initial review, into the system.
Customer portals enable customers or vendors to submit their work orders before sending samples to the lab for processing. For instance:
- Customers can place orders, print, and attach labels to samples.
- Laboratory gets alert that samples are in transit.
- Once the samples are received, the laboratory can quickly scan the label to identify and document every sample.
LIMS also enables customers to track their orders and get final results on completion.
SAMPLE AND TASK SCHEDULING
A Laboratory Information Management System enables laboratories to pre-schedule tasks or samples. When needed, the sample is created in the system automatically, informing the lab that the samples are required to be collected and received for further processing. This feature is useful for labs that create samples at regular intervals.
Users can also view the pre-scheduled tasks or events anytime. This helps the lab staff streamline daily task management and resource planning while reducing the time spent on data entry.
LIMS also helps in scheduling and managing essential tasks like instrument maintenance and staff training.
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SAMPLE COLLECTION
The LIMS software can improve initial data collection in the field, at the plant, or on-site at the lab via a mobile app. Its integration with map technology enables defining the best collection route, saving time and resources.
Improved communication between the lab and the field helps the lab get complete information about the collection, transit, or sample issues.
SAMPLE RECEIPT OR LOGIN
The LIMS software offers better throughput and efficiency through sample templates enabling users to understand what data is needed and load default values for common data elements. It reduces data input time and enhances data quality and integrity.
TEST RESULT ENTRY
The main highlight of the LIMS software is the capability to enter and track results. Many laboratory information management system software allows automated/manual entry via integration with different instruments. There are many LIMS platforms that automatically enable simple and complex calculations upon entry.
INSTRUMENT MANAGEMENT
Instrument management is the key to any LIMS software. Its ability to schedule maintenance, track calibrations, and record historical maintenance is important in increasing the life of lab instruments and ensuring quality results from testing.
LIMS can even inform the users about an instrument’s current and future availability, ensuring smooth operations.
VALIDATION AND APPROVAL
LIMS software provides ways to validate complete data and specific results. It identifies what needs to be validated by whom and for what reason. It allows creating multiple layers of validation. LIMS, by automating the validation process, ensures timely and quality results.
FINAL REPORTING
Upon validation, a final report is generated and sent to pre-defined recipients. Reports can either be automatically distributed or scheduled. This process improves customer support, enables consistent review of final data, and reduces resource requirements.
COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
Compliance management involves maintaining the legal and regulatory compliance for sample management, instrument management, inventory management, personnel management, etc.
The LIMS software incorporates many other features to support compliance efforts, like eSignatures, Audit Trail and enhanced reporting.
CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS
For some industries, a Certificate of Analysis is considered the final lab report. It helps in increasing customer satisfaction. It plays a vital role in communicating how results meet customers’ specifications. LIMS software can automatically produce customisable and customer-specific Certificate of Analysis reports.
Having discussed the significant benefits of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software, now is the time to decide on the best lab management software. Although there are many players in the LIMS software segment, the most preferred ones are Labworks.com, Labosaurus.com, and SoftClinic.
With a presence in more than 45 countries, SoftClinic, backed by the JVS Group, is a suite of healthcare software designed to empower clinicians and hospitals with transformative digital solutions.
Also Read: Best Hospital Management Software in 2022