Using LIMS to Improve Business Efficiency and Profitability
The Model T Ford is still discussed in business schools today because of how Henry Ford relentlessly drove quality and innovation. When first introduced in 1908 the Model T cost $825; by 1916 it cost $360. While reducing the cost by more than half, Ford increased the safety, reliability, and speed of the product. His laser-like focus on quality was legendary and his quote “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking”, is still a mainstay of quality theory and practice.
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Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update – Volume 18, Issue 38
September 22, 2020 Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update Volume 18, Issue 38 In This Issue Featured Books The Complete Guide to LIMS and Laboratory Informatics: 2020 Edition Featured Content 09/22/2020 - Sunquest Physician Portal for Pooled Testing - Supporting high-volume pooled testing, for COVID-19 and moreAs the demand for COVID-19 testing has increased, Sunquest has enhanced our industry-leading physician portal offering with the capability to process pooled tests – not just for COVID-19 but for any test that allows for pooling. From order to result, test on batches of samples at once and increase your capacity and efficiency when needed…Screening for more than 1,000 pesticides and environmental contaminants in cannabis by GC/Q-TOF
Sure, there are laboratory methods for looking for a small number of specific contaminates in cannabis substrates (target screening), but what about more than a thousand at one time (suspect screening)? In this 2020 paper published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Wylie et al. demonstrate a method to screen cannabis extracts for more than 1,000 pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other pollutants using gas chromatography paired with a high-resolution accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC/Q-TOF), in conjunction with several databases. They note that while some governmental bodies are mandating a specific subset of contaminates to be tested for in cannabis products, some cultivators may still use unapproved pesticides and such that aren't officially tested for, putting medical cannabis and recreational users alike at risk. As proof-of-concept, the authors describe their suspect screening materials, methods, and results of using ever-improving mass spectrometry methods to find hundreds of pollutants at one time. Rather than make specific statements about this method, the authors instead let the results of testing confiscated cannabis samples largely speak to the viability of the method.
Persistent identification of instruments
In this 2020 paper published in Data Science Journal, Stocker et al. present their initial attempts at generating a schema for persistently identifying scientific measuring instruments, much in the same way journal articles and data sets can be persistently identified using digital object identifiers (DOIs). They argue that "a persistent identifier for instruments would enable research data to be persistently associated with" vital metadata associated with instruments used to produce research data, "helping to set data into context." As such, they demonstrate the development and implementation of a schema to address the managements of instruments and the data they produce. After discussing their methodology, results, those results' interpretation, and adopted uses of the schema, the authors conclude by declaring the "practical viability" of the schema "for citation, cross-linking, and retrieval purposes," and promoting the schema's future development and adoption as a necessary task,
Cannabis contaminants limit pharmacological use of cannabidiol
In this 2020 review published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, Montoya et al. discuss the various potential contaminants found in cannabis products and how those contaminants may create negative consequences medically, particularly for immunocompromised individuals. Though the authors take a largely global perspective on the topic, they note at several points the lack of consistent standards—particularly in the United States—and what that means for the long-term health of cannabis users, especially as legalization efforts continue to move forward. In addition to contaminants such as microbes, heavy metals, pesticides, plant growth regulators, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the authors also address the dangers that come with inaccurate laboratory analyses and labeling of cannabinoid content in cannabidiol (CBD)-based products. They conclude that "it is imperative to develop universal standards for cultivation and testing of products to protect those who consume cannabis."
Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update – Volume 18, Issue 37
September 15, 2020 Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update Volume 18, Issue 37 In This Issue Featured Books Past, Present, and Future of Cannabis Laboratory Testing and Regulation in the United States Featured Content 09/15/2020 - Abbott Informatics Announces the Release of STARLIMS Technology Platform V12.1STARLIMS Technology Platform is the foundation of each STARLIMS system, either HTML5 or XFD based. It contains the building blocks necessary to build and operate robust LIMS systems decoupled from the underlaying details of operating systems, browsers and databases. 09/15/2020 - Autoscribe Releases LIMS System Validation White PaperAutoscribe Informatics, a leading global laboratory informatics provider, announced…COVID Testing for Schools and Universities
With COVID-19 on the rise in many universities and schools around the country, many of these institutions are searching for ways to keep their students, faculty, and staff safe this school year. With the spread of the virus increasing amongst young people, the pressure for quick and accurate testing and reporting is also on the rise. LabLynx has been leading the way to meet the needs of these...
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Development of an informatics system for accelerating biomedical research
Appearing originally in a 2019 issue of F1000Research, this recently revised second version sees Navale et al. expand on their development, implementation, and various uses of the Biomedical Research Informatics Computing System (BRICS), "designed to address the wide-ranging needs of several biomedical research programs" in the U.S. With a focus on using common data elements (CDEs) for improving data quality, consistency, and reuse, the authors explain their approach to BRICS development, how it accepts and processes data, and how users can effectively access and share data for improved translational research. The authors also provide examples of how the open-source BRICS software is being used by the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. They conclude that not only does BRICS further biomedical digital data stewardship under the FAIR principles, but it also "results in sustainable digital biomedical repositories that ensure higher data quality."
Case Study: LabVantage LIMS Biobanking Validation for a Contract Research Organization
A contract research organization (CRO) providing full-service clinical development services to biopharmaceutical and medical device sponsors was interested in implementing one centralized system to manage their biorepository. They choose to install the LabVantage pre-packaged LIMS designed for biobanking (LabVantage Biobanking), as this system is pre-configured to address all aspects of biorepository management.[Read More]
Lab Lessons from COVID-19: Best-of-Breed Systems Enable Stronger Response
The lab is the command post in the fight against COVID-19.
If your organization is considering a shift from best-of-breed laboratory technology to an enterprise-wide system and EHR with a patchwork of add-on applications, now is an important time to elevate this question: During a pandemic, is it fiscally responsible to spend millions moving away from best-of-breed laboratory systems that work?
Read more in our blog post, Best-of-Breed Systems Enable Stronger Response
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See why Genomic Prediction Chose Exemplar
Genomic Prediction a clinical laboratory which provides advanced genetic testing to reduce the risk of disease and improve the health outcome of newborns chose Exemplar as their clinical LIMS.
