What’s Important When Selecting a LIMS?

When selecting a laboratory information management system (LIMS), whether it’s your first or you’re replacing an existing solution, the temptation is to concentrate solely on your user requirements. It really does make sense to document these and match them to the features of potential LIMS products.

However, remember that it is extremely unlikely, if not impossible, that any LIMS will exactly meet your needs when delivered out-of-the-box, and anyway those needs will certainly change over time. All LIMS consist of a database in which to store the data, and a user interface to input, manipulate and present that data. As this is all created using software any vendor can claim that their solution can be modified to your exact needs and therefore all your requirements can be met.