https://www.limsforum.com The Global Laboratory, Informatics, Medical and Science Professional Community Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:00:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://s3.limsforum.com/www.limsforum.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-LIMSforum-Fav-32x32.png https://www.limsforum.com 32 32 https://www.limsforum.com/types-of-lims-there-are-types-of-labs-not-types-of-lims/116631/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=types-of-lims-there-are-types-of-labs-not-types-of-lims https://www.limsforum.com/types-of-lims-there-are-types-of-labs-not-types-of-lims/116631/#respond Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:00:33 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/types-of-lims-there-are-types-of-labs-not-types-of-lims/116631/ Choosing the right LIMS starts with identifying what a laboratory tracks: samples, patients, experiments, batches, or machines. These differences shape workflows, terminology, and reporting requirements. Understanding the laboratory’s unit of record helps identify the right software and avoid mismatched systems.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/types-of-lims-there-are-types-of-labs-not-types-of-lims/116631/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/does-your-lims-need-to-be-validated-what-each-regulator-asks-for/116620/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=does-your-lims-need-to-be-validated-what-each-regulator-asks-for https://www.limsforum.com/does-your-lims-need-to-be-validated-what-each-regulator-asks-for/116620/#respond Fri, 06 Nov 2026 18:06:54 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/does-your-lims-need-to-be-validated-what-each-regulator-asks-for/116620/ LIMS validation remains the laboratory’s responsibility, not the software vendor’s. Regulated laboratories must validate their systems for intended use, including configurations and workflows. Risk-based approaches support compliance with Part 11, Annex 11, and ISO 17025, while ongoing change control maintains validation throughout the system’s lifecycle.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/does-your-lims-need-to-be-validated-what-each-regulator-asks-for/116620/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/cloud-or-on-premises-lims-the-decision-is-not-about-security/116601/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cloud-or-on-premises-lims-the-decision-is-not-about-security https://www.limsforum.com/cloud-or-on-premises-lims-the-decision-is-not-about-security/116601/#respond Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:26:17 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/cloud-or-on-premises-lims-the-decision-is-not-about-security/116601/ Laboratories choosing between cloud and on-premises LIMS face three key constraints: administration, downtime, and budget. Security alone rarely settles the decision. Migration costs, offline access to QC rules, and instrument compatibility all matter. On-premises remains a practical choice for labs with sovereignty requirements, legacy connections, and dedicated IT staff.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/cloud-or-on-premises-lims-the-decision-is-not-about-security/116601/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/a11-chain-of-custody-for-environmental-labs-the-form-is-not-the-requirement/116589/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a11-chain-of-custody-for-environmental-labs-the-form-is-not-the-requirement https://www.limsforum.com/a11-chain-of-custody-for-environmental-labs-the-form-is-not-the-requirement/116589/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:21:15 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/a11-chain-of-custody-for-environmental-labs-the-form-is-not-the-requirement/116589/ Under the TNI standard, a legal chain of custody procedure is required only when the customer requires one. Every environmental sample needs documented receipt criteria, identification, preservation and holding time checks, and a unique identifier that links results back to the person who received it.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/a11-chain-of-custody-for-environmental-labs-the-form-is-not-the-requirement/116589/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/from-hire-to-sign-out-competency-is-a-record-not-a-course/116573/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-hire-to-sign-out-competency-is-a-record-not-a-course https://www.limsforum.com/from-hire-to-sign-out-competency-is-a-record-not-a-course/116573/#respond Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:20:51 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/from-hire-to-sign-out-competency-is-a-record-not-a-course/116573/ Your new analyst’s training is signed off and she’s doing fine. Then the assessor asks for the assessment due six months after her first patient specimen, and the date she first reported alone. Competency is a dated record, not a course. See what CLIA, CAP and ISO/IEC 17025 expect it to show, and how to shorten time to sign-out safely.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/from-hire-to-sign-out-competency-is-a-record-not-a-course/116573/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/one-resignation-away-what-leaves-the-lab-with-a-person/116571/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=one-resignation-away-what-leaves-the-lab-with-a-person https://www.limsforum.com/one-resignation-away-what-leaves-the-lab-with-a-person/116571/#respond Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:20:23 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/one-resignation-away-what-leaves-the-lab-with-a-person/116571/ The microbiologist’s last day is a Friday. The next Tuesday, the incubator calibration she ran every week for nine years doesn’t happen, and the log stays blank for eleven weeks. The SOP holds the method, but the exceptions leave with the person. See where those gaps hide, what assessors find, and how a one-afternoon audit can catch them first.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/one-resignation-away-what-leaves-the-lab-with-a-person/116571/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/a-failed-pt-round-is-an-investigation-not-a-score/116569/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-failed-pt-round-is-an-investigation-not-a-score https://www.limsforum.com/a-failed-pt-round-is-an-investigation-not-a-score/116569/#respond Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:18:09 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/a-failed-pt-round-is-an-investigation-not-a-score/116569/ The PT report says unacceptable, the next round passes, and both pages go in the binder. But assessors look for the written investigation that belongs between them. One lab was cited in 2026 for a single failed PT event from 2023. See what counts as a failure under CLIA, TNI and ISO/IEC 17025, and what to check first, from clerical errors to the scheme.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/a-failed-pt-round-is-an-investigation-not-a-score/116569/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/repeat-until-it-passes-the-qc-habit-that-hides-the-drift/116567/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=repeat-until-it-passes-the-qc-habit-that-hides-the-drift https://www.limsforum.com/repeat-until-it-passes-the-qc-habit-that-hides-the-drift/116567/#respond Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:17:25 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/repeat-until-it-passes-the-qc-habit-that-hides-the-drift/116567/ Nine in ten US labs answer a failed control by running it again. The repeat passes, the record shows a pass, and the drift is still there for an inspector to find. See why repeats pass even when a method has drifted, what CLIA, ISO/IEC 17025, TNI and 21 CFR 211 actually require, and what a QC failure record needs before the next audit.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/repeat-until-it-passes-the-qc-habit-that-hides-the-drift/116567/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/116552-2/116552/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=116552-2 https://www.limsforum.com/116552-2/116552/#respond Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:37:59 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/fsma-204-moved-to-2028-your-retail-customers-deadlines-did-not/116552/ The FDA’s Food Traceability Rule now takes effect July 20, 2028, but major retailers have established their own traceability deadlines. Some require data on all food items rather than only those on the Food Traceability List, making retailer requirements an immediate priority for food manufacturers.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/116552-2/116552/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/lablynx-one-built-around-solutions-not-functionality/116545/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lablynx-one-built-around-solutions-not-functionality https://www.limsforum.com/lablynx-one-built-around-solutions-not-functionality/116545/#respond Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:54:16 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/lablynx-one-built-around-solutions-not-functionality/116545/ LabLynx One is the next generation of LabLynx, available now. Instead of configuring a blank system for months, your lab starts with a ready-to-use solution built for your type of work, like water testing or used oil analysis, and runs in days or weeks. LabLynx LIMS and ELN are part of the platform, licensed by team with unlimited users.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/lablynx-one-built-around-solutions-not-functionality/116545/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/leaving-element-or-horizon-lims-move-on-your-own-timeline/116522/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=leaving-element-or-horizon-lims-move-on-your-own-timeline https://www.limsforum.com/leaving-element-or-horizon-lims-move-on-your-own-timeline/116522/#respond Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:28:27 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/leaving-element-or-horizon-lims-move-on-your-own-timeline/116522/ Labs using Promium Element LIMS, HORIZON LIMS or Apollo LIMS face an end of life deadline and growing compliance risk. The replacement process requires data migration, report rebuilding and validation. LabLynx helps labs preserve existing workflows, assess what moves or retires, and run systems side by side before go-live.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/leaving-element-or-horizon-lims-move-on-your-own-timeline/116522/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/environmental-monitoring-lab-one-sample-step-by-step/116507/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=environmental-monitoring-lab-one-sample-step-by-step https://www.limsforum.com/environmental-monitoring-lab-one-sample-step-by-step/116507/#respond Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/environmental-monitoring-lab-one-sample-step-by-step/116507/ Environmental monitoring results are largely decided before a sample reaches the instrument. Collection, preservation, custody, and holding time controls can invalidate data before analysis begins. Laboratories must track these critical steps accurately, maintain control of records, and ensure deliverables meet the required state format and version.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/environmental-monitoring-lab-one-sample-step-by-step/116507/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/laboratory-informatics-five-kinds-of-data-three-decisions/116480/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=laboratory-informatics-five-kinds-of-data-three-decisions https://www.limsforum.com/laboratory-informatics-five-kinds-of-data-three-decisions/116480/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:33:18 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/laboratory-informatics-five-kinds-of-data-three-decisions/116480/ Laboratory informatics is not a single product or platform. It encompasses five types of laboratory data, each requiring appropriate ownership and management. This guide helps laboratories identify data gaps, understand system boundaries, evaluate audit trail obligations, and determine which capabilities are needed to build a practical LIMS shortlist.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/laboratory-informatics-five-kinds-of-data-three-decisions/116480/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/lims-vs-eln-converged-on-features-not-on-the-unit-of-work/116470/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lims-vs-eln-converged-on-features-not-on-the-unit-of-work https://www.limsforum.com/lims-vs-eln-converged-on-features-not-on-the-unit-of-work/116470/#respond Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:39:19 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/lims-vs-eln-converged-on-features-not-on-the-unit-of-work/116470/ A LIMS is built around the sample, an ELN around the experiment, and every shared feature sits on one of those two spines. A 2017 survey synthesis found 98 percent awareness of electronic notebooks against 11 percent use, with recurring cost the barrier. Many labs need both; the expensive mistake is expecting one to do the other's job.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/lims-vs-eln-converged-on-features-not-on-the-unit-of-work/116470/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/lis-vs-lims-two-words-four-desks-one-expensive-mistake/116468/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lis-vs-lims-two-words-four-desks-one-expensive-mistake https://www.limsforum.com/lis-vs-lims-two-words-four-desks-one-expensive-mistake/116468/#respond Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:38:35 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/lis-vs-lims-two-words-four-desks-one-expensive-mistake/116468/ LIS and LIMS are not two names for one system. An LIS is built around a patient, a requisition and an accession number under CLIA. A LIMS is built around a sample, a client and a holding time under ISO/IEC 17025 or 21 CFR Part 11. The feature lists have converged; the regulation and the data model have not, and that surfaces at go-live.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/lis-vs-lims-two-words-four-desks-one-expensive-mistake/116468/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/how-does-a-lims-work-and-what-makes-an-implementation-fail/116430/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-does-a-lims-work-and-what-makes-an-implementation-fail https://www.limsforum.com/how-does-a-lims-work-and-what-makes-an-implementation-fail/116430/#respond Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:32:08 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/how-does-a-lims-work-and-what-makes-an-implementation-fail/116430/ A LIMS is easy to buy but difficult to implement. Success depends on decisions made early—often before a contract is signed. A LIMS makes the sample the unit of record, linking every transfer, method, instrument reading and approval in a traceable history. How well it works ultimately depends on four key decisions made before purchase.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/how-does-a-lims-work-and-what-makes-an-implementation-fail/116430/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/lims-roi-how-to-build-a-number-your-cfo-will-accept/116395/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lims-roi-how-to-build-a-number-your-cfo-will-accept https://www.limsforum.com/lims-roi-how-to-build-a-number-your-cfo-will-accept/116395/#respond Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:58:35 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/lims-roi-how-to-build-a-number-your-cfo-will-accept/116395/ Most LIMS business cases open with an industry-average savings percentage, and the conversation becomes an argument about whether that number applies to your lab. Here is the other approach: four current-state cost lines you can pull from your own records in an afternoon, the five figures to demand from any vendor in writing, and the formulas.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/lims-roi-how-to-build-a-number-your-cfo-will-accept/116395/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/the-2026-laboratory-compliance-calendar-every-deadline-and-where-it-actually-stands/116393/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-2026-laboratory-compliance-calendar-every-deadline-and-where-it-actually-stands https://www.limsforum.com/the-2026-laboratory-compliance-calendar-every-deadline-and-where-it-actually-stands/116393/#respond Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:57:40 +0000 https://www.limsforum.com/the-2026-laboratory-compliance-calendar-every-deadline-and-where-it-actually-stands/116393/ Six dated entries, each with current status. The FDA's LDT rule is vacated, not delayed. The BIOSECURE Act is law but not yet operative. And ISO/IEC 17025 was not revised in 2025, despite widespread reporting to the contrary. The next hard date is 18 December 2026, and most of these frameworks ask for the same four records.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/the-2026-laboratory-compliance-calendar-every-deadline-and-where-it-actually-stands/116393/feed/ 0 https://www.limsforum.com/116342-2/116342/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=116342-2 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:10:15 +0000 https:/?p=116342 EPA has proposed pushing PFAS treatment compliance to 2031 and rescinding four of the six regulated analytes, but neither proposal moves the monitoring date. Initial results are still due to the state by April 26, 2027. LabLynx breaks down the sampling schedules, what UCMR 5 data can still count for, and where the deadline actually gets missed.[Read More]]]> https://www.limsforum.com/116315-2/116315/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=116315-2 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:20:37 +0000 https:/?p=116315 The FDA pushed its Food Traceability Rule to July 2028, but Kroger, Walmart, Sam's Club, Albertsons, Target, and KeHE never moved theirs, and most now require traceability data on all foods rather than only listed ones. This breaks down what the retailer requirements actually involve, where an ASN build leaves lab records unjoined, and what to fix first.[Read More]]]>