November 8, 2009 - Would you consider a SaaS (Hosted) LIMS for your Laboratory?

With all the talk about SaaS for laboratories, it seems like a good idea to find out whether or not laboratories have any real interest in SaaS (hosted) LIMS. Take this quick 2 second poll and also see what others are saying.

November 2, 2009 - So what keeps you from buying a LIMS for your lab?

Take a look at the following survey and see if any of the questions apply to your situation.  The survey takes less than a minute to complete.

Click Here to take the survey

November 2, 2009 - LIMS are like fish

Given enough time and experience in implementing LIMS you start to recognize patterns. I admit that I am a bit slow on the uptake but at least I have almost 2 decades under my belt implementing a number of LIMS and have tried to learn from that experience and practice that education in the real world.

October 29, 2009 - A possible answer to improving software quality

I think some of you will be able to relate to this. If you have one of these in your home you will understand how quality would improve significantly if they were in charge of software quality.

October 26, 2009 - Is there such a thing as an “Independent LIMS Consultant”? Does it matter?

I read a blog post recently from a LIMS consultant attempting to define what an independent LIMS consultant is. They defined “Independent” as “not directly involved with” and that it does not mean “small”. I agree with that definition. However, I contend that there is no such thing as an “Independent LIMS Consultant” or at least it is so rare that one can argue reasonably that it does not exist.

October 26, 2009 - Be a savvy LIMS buyer… Try it before you buy it

It seems like the modern software industry has passed most LIMS companies by. The modern software company has become very mature and competitive while LIMS software companies seem to be stagnant, lacking innovation and unwilling to provide even the most basic product information on their web sites; instead choosing to rely upon salesman promises over real concrete demonstration of product features and functions. This is the sort of behavior you would expect from software companies in the 1980’s and 90’s, not a modern software company.

October 16, 2009 - Cloud Computing Explained

The following video provides a very good and simple explanation of Cloud Computing and explains the relationship to SaaS and Grid Computing.

October 12, 2009 - Instrument Interfacing – The Great Paradox of LIMS?

Blaze Systems has issued an Instrument Interfacing White Paper examining the apparent paradox evidenced by the underutilization of this powerful and cost effective adjunct to LIMS functionality. The various myths which contribute to this reality are discussed, evaluated, and examined under the illuminating light of reality.

October 12, 2009 - Cloud Computing & SaaS – Clearing up the confusion using some humor

With all the hype today about Cloud Computing and SaaS, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there.

October 11, 2009 - What type of system do you use to manage laboratory data?

There has been a number of discussions recently about what type of system is dominant in the laboratory for managing data. Take this 3 second poll to tell us what your lab uses and learn what others are doing.

October 7, 2009 - The Acronym Junkie

Do you know any people like this? I sure do. The industry seems to be made up of sales people who proclaim technobabble as if they were an authority and when it comes down to it they don’t know how to define it let alone incorporate it into a product in any meaningful or applicable way. It is a hold over from the dot-bomb days and good riddance.

October 7, 2009 - Not a tailor anymore…

In this global world of cookie cutter mass produced products, the modern LIMS can stand out from those that are hard coded to a particular use. Avoid purchasing a hard coded LIMS. You can have a tailor fit with the price and quality of mass production. Progressive LIMS companies can avoid the downside of globalization and prosper by providing data driven, configurable solutions that fit the laboratory’s exacting needs.

October 5, 2009 - LIMS for the Bass Ackwards Laboratory

It is clear that if you have a lab that produces data, you need a system to manage and release that data in a format known as "Information". Customers of the lab do not need raw instrument data, they need quality assured information that consists of raw instrument data. They need information that directly correlates to why they sent samples to the lab for testing in the first place. The fact that an analytical instrument had to be used to produce the required data is of no concern to those lab customers. They just want the information.

October 5, 2009 - Download iPad ELN (electronic laboratory notebook) for free & presentation on Legal Issues for ELN’s

Check out the iPad ELN:

• Are you an experimental researcher who needs to organize work notes so that they are easier to search and share with colleagues? Then the iPad Electronic Lab Notebook is a good solution for you, since it allows you to organize notes in a way that is both thorough and flexible. The key concept in iPad is labeling or tagging: you can tag any part of your notes using common tags such as project, experiment, data, or tip. Tags make the notes easier to understand and manage.

October 1, 2009 - LIMS and Stem Cell Research

LIMS is an acronym for Laboratory Information Management Software, is a common software used in environmental, pharmaceutical and research institutions. It’s a software to manage laboratory life, indeed with this tool it’s possible not only to manage samples and standards, users and instruments, but also to send invoices, control the automation of the workflow, manage projects.

September 30, 2009 - Implementing B2MML In LIMS

By Jeff Vannest, Senior Consultant

In the process of implementing an ERP to LIMS interface, one of the challenges to overcome was how to clearly communication between Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) and SQL*LIMS v5. In the past, I had been exposed to several methods of interface communication, text files containing single bits of data, records inserted directly into a database, and concatenated strings transmitted over a network. Each of these methods had at least one serious flaw: if the data structure changed the interface stopped working. This article will review how Business To Manufacturing Markup Language (B2MML) was used to robustly transfer data and instructions between an ERP and LIMS system.

September 25, 2009 - Interfacing SQL*LIMS v5 to a Global ERP

By Jeff Vannest, Senior Consultant

Most of this year has been spent designing and writing an interface between SQL*LIMS v5.1 and the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system being implemented by a global pharmaceutical manufacturing company. The goal was threefold: notify LIMS system administrators of changes made to materials, vendors, and manufactures; automatically create and update lots in the LIMS system; and send lot statuses and results from LIMS back to the ERP when testing was complete. This article will review the decision-making process used to plan and develop the interface.

September 24, 2009 - LIMS for the Water, Wastewater Laboratory

The Ideal LIMS Solution for the Water, Wastewater Lab is a function of the right company, the right technology and the right features and functions for your needs. All supported by first class training, implementation and maintenance and support services. LABLynx is the Ideal Solution for your lab or enterprise, no matter how large or small, or how you choose to manage your own unique workflows, individual processes and data.

September 23, 2009 - Mirror, Mirror on the wall, what is the largest LIMS of them all?

There are many types and sizes of laboratories, as we all well know. Let’s face it though, not many labs are very large, in fact, most have fewer than 25 people. So given this fact, does it really matter what the answer is to the question: “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, what is the largest LIMS of them all?” Well…. you decide.