Chromatography is a core technique in every analytical and scientific laboratory. There is a wide range of instruments available on the market, and the data they generate must be managed, analyzed, and made accessible.
LIMS and ELN systems are designed for a wide variety of instrument types and only partially address the specific characteristics of chromatography instruments, particularly their control systems. CDS systems thus serve as a bridge between the instruments and, for example, a LIMS system.
These include features such as:
- A unified interface for controlling multiple chromatography instruments
- Workflow Diagrams
- Compliance-compliant collection, approval, and archiving of results
- Centralized control of access to the central database to ensure data integrity
- Support in complying with regulatory requirements
- Providing interfaces to third-party systems
Major equipment manufacturers offer their own software packages, and third-party devices can also be integrated using special drivers. Given the increasing prevalence of CDS systems and growing requirements for demonstrating high data integrity, it makes sense to integrate additional types of equipment into CDS systems. There are currently solutions available that can also handle, for example, spectroscopy devices and their data.