LIMSnla.org.za/webfiles/conferences/2016/Presentations/Wednesday, 28... · experiences with LIMS...
Transcript of LIMSnla.org.za/webfiles/conferences/2016/Presentations/Wednesday, 28... · experiences with LIMS...
LIMS
By Dharmarai Naicker
By
Dharmarai Naicker –September 2016
COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES HAVE
EVOLVED WITH TIME AND ARE TOUCHING
OUR LIVES WHERE WE LIVE, PLAY AND
WORK.
ITInformation technology (IT) has the potential to give
businesses options to redesign processes to develop high-
performing organizations.
A high performance work culture is where innovation,
performance, value-added change and customer
satisfaction is valued by all employees.
Information technology is a means of delivering high value
information in an environment driven by information.
LIMS
Why are Laboratory Information Management
Systems (LIMS) becoming a catalyst for and
the face of reengineered laboratories today?
Is it just a new fad where everything is put on
an information system?
Is LIMS a necessity for every life science
organisation?
Maintenance
A function that allows the administrator to keep track of databases
Personnel and equipment management
Allows users to track employee training records for ISO and track instrument calibration, repairs, costs, monitor trends, etc
Chemical and reagent inventory
Functionality that tracks the purchase and usage of supplies in the laboratory
Electronic data
Allows automatic transfer of data from analytical instrumentation into the LIMS.
Quality AssuranceA/Quality Control
Allows users to generate control charts and view trend analysis graphs.
Sample Scheduling
Automatically logs in samples, receives them into the laboratory, prints labels, and assigns the tests for projects on a routine basis.
Data entry
Allows analysts to enter results into the LIMSand to assign QC run batches.
Sample tracking
Allows laboratories to track their samples through different departments in the laboratory with a computer-generated unique sample identification number
Improved security. User logon. Role-based functionality.
Audit trail. Data cannot be accidentally deleted.
Secure remote access
Central database for improved and faster data analysis and reporting.Interfaces with other departments.
Improved billing via direct export to financial system. Productivity measurement reports .Price list management. Low cost of reporting
Reduced admin work for lab staff. Increased productivity. Higher levels of certainty.
Work scheduling
Limits damage due to staff turnover.
Provides continuity .
Removal of paperwork, reduction of man power requirements
Opportunity to improve business processes. Dramatically improved capacity. Automated tasks require no time from analysts.
Supports accreditation and legal requirements.
Traceability of Most LIMS include extensive QC measures, graphs and reports
Improved accuracy via Data import from instruments. Barcode printing and scanning . Limit checks. Automatic calculation of results.Faster lead times for customers-Improved
A LIMS automates the production of, use and
distribution of information gathered and has a
significant impact on service delivery.
With such a powerful advancement in information
systems one would want to know if South African
testing laboratories are implementing LIMS, and to
what extent.
The survey attempted to address the status of LIMS
implementation in accredited South African
Laboratories
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the current status of LIMS
implementation across South African testing
laboratories
To investigate the status of LIMS service providers in
the South African market and their strengths and
weakness and opportunities for improvement.
To determine the impact of LIMS on productivity,
efficiency and effectiveness of the South African
testing Laboratory business
Of the 328 laboratories that were requested to participate in the survey, 28
contact emails were returned as ‘Failed’. Only 72 (22%) of the 328 laboratories
responded, with 66 (92%) agreeing to participate and 8% declining to participate
further in the survey.
62
7
3.4
14
3.4
0
3.43.4 3.4
Location of laboratories
Gauteng
Western Cape
Free State
Kwazulu Natal
Limpopo
Norther Cape
Eastern Cape
Mphumalanga
North West Province
LIMS SURVEY
21
14
3.4
73.43.4
7
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.43.4 7 3.4
Type of Laboratory
Food testing
Water testing
Civil
Chemical
Electrical
Lab
Mining
Medical Devices
Packaging Testing
Diagnostics
Reseach-Roads
Agriculture
Of the 72 respondents only 33 indicated whether their laboratory supports or
manages a LIMS or not. Of the laboratories that responded 58% of the laboratories
have a LIMS in place, 30% are not planning to implement a LIMS, while 12%
indicated that they plan to implement a LIMS in the future.
CURRENT USE OF LIMS IN LABORATORIES
24
19
14
10
11
0
0
1
20
4
sample management
User reporting
Workflow automation
Instrument connections
QA/QC
Regulatory Management
Environmental Monitoring
Inventory Control
Analyses with Calculations
Others
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
sample management
User reporting
Workflow automation
Instrument connections
QA/QC
Regulatory Management
Environmental Monitoring
Inventory Control
Analyses with Calculations
Others
0 5 10 15 20 25
service and support
Eas of use
Price
Versatility
Privacy/security
Customization
Eas of installation
Upgrade pricing
Web based access
Remote access
The most important factors that
influenced the choice of
purchase of LIMS
LIMS WEAKNESSES
Cost was mentioned as a weakness of some of the LIMS vendors by half of
the respondents in the current survey.
Just under half of the respondents (46.7%) mentioned costly improvements
as a weakness. A further 26.7% reported lack of technical support and 20
% identified costly maintenance plans of their vendors.
In implementing LIMS, respondents identified poor staff training (21%) and
costs to maintain their systems (50%) as further drawbacks of the systems
in their environments.
When asked to indicate the factors that influenced their purchase choice
when choosing a LIMS vendor, the two most important decision making
factors for the respondents were service and support and customization.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Dramatically Improved
Faster turnaround times
Higher levels of certainty
Easy accreditation
Data at your finger tips
Interfaces with other systems
Track productivity
Enhance quality control
Low cost of reporting
Paperless
Cost benefits of LIMS
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Implement LIMS in the cloud
Accessing LIMS through tablets
Accessing LIMS through mobile devices
The future of LIMS
RECOMMENDATIONSIt is recommended that the research project is repeated with
particular attention focused on increasing the sample size.
A collaborative project with institutes in all nine provinces could
assist in adopting a more effective mixed research methodology
allowing researchers to visit laboratories and conduct interviews
directly with the Executive and Laboratory management on their
experiences with LIMS implementation and its strategic benefits
to their organisations.
The online survey could also be shorter, and could be opened to
all laboratories in South Africa, regardless of accreditation status.
CONCLUSION
LIMS should provide efficient, cost effective generation of
information for the laboratory environment and the
business.
For any organisation the ultimate goal of implementation of a
LIMS is to properly apply information technology to provide
improved quality, quantity and value of information that will
maximize a laboratory’s value to its customers and improve
customer satisfaction, retention and market penetration.
Paperless` future