Challenge
Laboratories are confronted with the challenge of processing more and more samples in less and less time. In addition, there are growing demands for traceability and documentation that cannot be met with current staffing levels. In research, the pressure to be fast is increasing. One way to increase efficiency is to have access to findings from previous experiments that can be easily analysed. In the context of globalisation, teams work all over the world, which increases the demand to share resources and to have access to the results of team colleagues.
Development
Computers have been used in laboratories since 1950. Today, it is impossible to imagine life without them. Almost every device either offers integrated software, is connected to a dedicated computer reserved for that device or is connected to a company network. The result is a variety of devices and generated data. Any project that wants to bring the different information together must first deal with different -often proprietary- formats and ensure that interfaces still work after updating device software. Often, data is transferred manually, e.g. reading the measurement results on a scale and manually entering them in a LIMS system. Each manual step takes time and carries an increased risk of errors. Critical manual steps must be safeguarded, e.g. by the dual control principle. However, automating everything is not economical due to the maintenance of rarely used interfaces.
Future, partly already present
Effort can be reduced through greater use of standards. Key words here are SILA, AnIML, Allotrope Foundation, Pistoia Alliance. Standards should make it easier for laboratory equipment to communicate with each other and to contribute data to common data pools. On this basis, LIMS, ELN, but also HIS systems and others can access several data sources in a simplified way and allow comprehensive searches and presentations. The use of centralised uniform storage also makes it easier to ensure long-term archiving.