The Origins Of LIMS And What They Do Today

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.

The main thing to know about these types of systems is that they are always computer-based nowadays, since they are a type of software. Every day, labs have many different forms of data and other information that needs to be tracked in real time and kept in a safe, reliable way that the scientists know will be accurate every time. Not only does this enable researchers to perform experiments in studies like they never could before, but it also makes every function of the lab much easier.

Some of the key things that this kind of a system helps in a laboratory is keeping track of all the workflow that goes on in the facility. It is also a way of tracking all of the data that is recorded so that it is easy to access and understand. With the many different kinds of specialty labs that are out there, the uses of these kinds of systems go far beyond these basic examples.

Management systems have been around in many different forms over the years, but as science has become more advanced, so too have these systems. In the beginning, they were just used to track samples and not much else. Nowadays, the systems are used as highly advanced programs that can put huge amounts of data together at speeds people of yesteryear could only dream of.

It is necessary to get to know any given laboratory and the workers there to know what they really mean when they refer to a laboratory information management system. This is often dependent on what kind of studies they are doing in their labs. Knowing this is a big help in understanding why they think of these systems in the way that they do.

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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