World 1st for Number of Concurrent Customer LIMS System – Demonstrations Claimed: Autoscribe Matrix LIMS – The Winning Formula
World 1st for Number of Concurrent Customer LIMS System
Demonstrations Claimed: Autoscribe Matrix LIMS – The Winning Formula
Autoscribe, a world-leading provider of enterprise Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) solutions, today claimed a World 1st for the number of concurrent customer LIMS system demonstrations held at the Matrix LIMS User Meeting on 2nd November 2004 @WilliamsF1 Conference Centre. The annual European Matrix LIMS User meeting was held at the WilliamsF1 Conference Centre in Grove, near Wantage, in the UK. The programme featured the release of two new products – Matrix LIMS Version 5 and Resource Planner. One key point of interest with Matrix Version 5 was the demonstration of how the configuration tools can be used to create web client screens as well as conventional client screens. The system supports a mix of clients and only one design of screen needs to be developed for the various clients thus saving valuable implementation time and cost.
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Resource Planner is now ready for delivery and already two key pharmaceutical customers have evaluated the product. One is interested in the use of the software for planning use of laboratory resources such as instruments and laboratory staff. The other is interested in more efficient planning of training courses by making best use of trainer resources.
The unique aspects of this meeting were the afternoon break-out sessions that featured ten different customer systems demonstrated by key users from the companies represented. This demonstration clearly showed the flexibility of Matrix LIMS as ten different industries and applications were featured. The following descriptions illustrate this point.
Customer System 1
Several features of this system were different from other installations of Matrix LIMS software. They were developed either alone or with Autoscribe in order to enhance the LIMS to meet current business needs:
Sample registration and analysis
Sample throughput is very important to this customer. In order for the analysts to manage their workload, each sample has a target turn round time and LIMS uses these times to automatically prioritise samples based on when the results are needed. The use of colour on the ‘status screen’ indicates clearly samples needing immediate attention.
Because of automated links with ERP, it was imperative that the same lot number of a final product is not registered more than once. The Matrix LIMS configuration will not allow this to happen.
Most systems allow an analyst to be allocated to each of the samples under test. Because of the way that this customer works, the system permits each test to be allocated to different analysts.
Once all of the results for a particular sample have been entered, LIMS automatically compares the results with the manufacturing specifications. In the event that a sample fails to meet these limits, LIMS automatically e-mails (via Lotus Notes) a product quality alert message to the submitting plant area.
Result retrieval
Colour is used on the approved samples screen to indicate which samples failed to meet the manufacturing specification. Additional filters on the screens allow specific sample results to be located efficiently and quickly.
Converting data to information
This customer has an existing Microsoft Access application which is used across the site to interrogate the LIMS system and provide information which is then used by the business.
In particular, the application permits the ability to trend the results for any component for any product, provides statistical data on turn round time performance, number of samples analysed, number of samples which failed to meet the manufacturing specifications etc. This application also provides access to manufacturing specifications and testing schedules held on LIMS and monitors the LIMS ERP interface.
Customer System 2
The Matrix LIMS system is currently used by this customer at 5 sites in the UK and all sites are linked to a central server.
The system is used to register a variety of dairy samples requiring no less than 60 registration screens in Matrix.
Different sites deal with different products but Matrix is set up such that a user is only presented with screens relevant to their site and/or the product that they are working with.
Extensive use is made of reports within the system
Customer System 3
This customer first adopted Matrix back in the days of Version 2. Since that time amalgamations, re-organisations and separations have led to significant evolution of their system. Today the system extends beyond the analytical department to include vehicle field trials and the oxidation department. Interfaces exist between Lotus Notes(tm), Excel(tm), TotalChrom(tm), Nugenisis Unify Vision(tm) and analytical instrumentation.
The system continues to evolve with plans to introduce Bar code readers and incorporate work from the engine test facility.
Customer System 4
Matrix LIMS is used in the Analytical Laboratory of this customer and will be introduced into the materials testing area over the next few months. The main features are:
1) Sample tracking:
a) Analysts can track the sample from the submission stage right through to the final approval stage
b) Customers can at any time check the status of their sample, which tests have been performed and which tests are still outstanding. They are also be informed about which analyst is responsible for the testing.
2) Work flow:
Each analyst has instant access to their own outstanding work and also to all outstanding work
3) Report Generation:
Analytical reports are automatically generated and can be circulated by email.
4) Statistics:
Reports are generated such as turn-over time, types and numbers of test per year etc…
5) Monthly Reports :
Each analyst has instant access to all work carried out in one particular month, helping to write monthly reports
6) Search Engine :
Several search engines have been set up which can be used by both analysts and customers
Customer System 5
Matrix LIMS is used within the clinical trials unit for:
- Registration of samples for each individual clinical trial
- Sample tracking across 2 locations and 11 freezers
- Recording of sample status (i.e. prepared / assayed / disposed)
- Generation of worklists
- Data entry according to clinical trial
- Validation / authorization of results by “Super users”
- Graphical and/or certificate of analysis style report generation for results according to clinical trial
Customer System 6
The Quality Control Laboratory at this NHS Hospital provides a quality assurance service to a number of licensed and unlicensed pharmaceutical and related production units both inside and outside the NHS. The system used is Matrix LIMS Version 4) is currently in the process of being implemented.
The laboratory work carried out by the pharmaceutical quality control laboratories generally comprises both chemical and microbiological testing. To date the implementation has been developed primarily to manage microbiological testing data.
Main functionality
Weekly Settle Plates
Agar plates are sent out to each unit on a weekly basis. The samples are pre-registered via templates and a report form and bar coded labels generated, which are sent with the plates to the production unit. The plates are exposed on the appropriate date, labelled using the labels supplied and returned to the lab with the form appropriately completed. The plates are then registered using details from the form and placed in incubators. Following incubation each plate is bar code scanned and the results entered.
Following result entry, a report is generated for return to the production facility and the results reviewed and approved. At this stage, it is possible to add alerts and review previous alerts as the data are used to provide on-going monitoring of a facility rather than being stand alone tests. Cumulative reports can also be generated.
Daily Settle Plates
Production facilities have a supply of agar plates and expose them in Grade A workzones each time they are used. The plates are sent to the laboratory where they are registered and bar coded prior to incubation. Result entry and approval follows similar lines to the weekly plates, except that the results are reported back on a weekly basis.
Air samples and contact plates
These are used monthly to monitor the air and surfaces in the production facilities. The LIMS process follows closely that for the weekly settle plates.
Staff Validations
Staff working in the production facilities, are assessed by means of a broth transfer validation. These tests are repeated on a regular basis. On completion of a test, the samples are presented to the laboratory for incubation and reading. They are registered and data such as the staff member and location entered. During training staff must initially carry out three successful tests before being judged competent. The status of staff is recorded on the system. On completion of the incubation, the results are entered and approved. The status of the member of staff is reviewed and a report generated.
Customer System 7
This customer is a UK national standards laboratory and is internationally respected and independent centre of excellence in research, development and knowledge transfer in measurement and materials science. For more than a century it has developed and maintained the nation’s primary measurement standards – the heart of an infrastructure designed to ensure accuracy, consistency and innovation in physical measurement. This customer demonstrated how they use Matrix Plus LIMS to manage their business process of delivering and improving it’s Measurement Services.
Customer System 8
This customer is a waste management company and we have legal requirements to test all incoming materials, in process materials and outgoing products, both on the solvent recovery side and the fuels side of the business. The system is set up to register all types of samples that the lab receive. Reports are available for incoming materials at the moment.
Customer System 9
This customer is an environmental consultancy and a test centre for the approval of materials coming into contact with drinking water. Their Analytical Chemistry Laboratory uses Matrix LIMS to track samples, generate work lists for each technique and in particular to report results to customers in a tailored format.
Customer System 10
This customer demonstrated their Matrix LIMS system which is used for nuclear industry environmental monitoring. The system is configured to show the workflow from the sample’s collection to the analysis and reports.
LIMS Systems 11- shown by Autoscribe
Autoscribe UK Ltd. also demonstrated various configurations of their standard Matrix LIMS, highly configurable, compliant product throughout the user meeting. Autoscribe also markets either standalone or onboard LIMS modules for SQL compliant databases (Access(tm), Oracle(tm), SQL Server(tm)) and software for managing stability studies , customer feedback and complaints, training records, resource planning, instrument calibration and maintenance and LIMS / instrument interfacing using the Labtronics LimsLink system and related products.
About Autoscribe
Autoscribe Limited is a world leader in the development and supply of high quality technical software for the scientific laboratory market. Autoscribe has pioneered configurable systems since 1996. Matrix Plus LIMS includes configuration tools that allow menus, screens, terminology, tests and reports to be designed and linked to match the needs of different laboratories without having to write any custom code. No programming knowledge is required to implement such a system. All configurable items are securely stored in the LIMS database.
Autoscribe has locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, Australia and India. More business partners are currently being sought. For more information, see Autoscribe on the worldwide web at www.autoscribe.co.uk
Further Enquiries
John Boother, Autoscribe Ltd, Wellington House, Riseley Business Park, Basingstoke Road, Riseley, Reading, Berkshire RG7 1NW. Email: matrix@autoscribe.co.uk
