Challenge
Laboratories are facing the challenge of processing an increasing number of samples in ever-shorter time frames. Added to this are growing requirements for traceability and documentation, which cannot be met with current staffing levels. In research, the pressure to be fast is mounting. Having easy access to findings from previous experiments that can be effectively analyzed is one way to increase efficiency. In the context of globalization, teams are spread across the globe, increasing the need to share resources and have access to their colleagues’ results.
Development
Computers have been used in laboratories since as early as 1950. Today, they are indispensable. Nearly every device either offers built-in software, is connected to a dedicated computer reserved for that device, or is linked to a company network. The result is a wide variety of devices and the data they generate. Any project aiming to consolidate this diverse information must first deal with various—often proprietary—formats and ensure that interfaces still function after device software updates. Data is often transferred manually, e.g., reading measurement results from a scale and manually entering them into a LIMS system. Every manual step takes time and carries an increased risk of errors. Critical manual steps must be safeguarded, for example, through the dual-control principle. However, automating everything is not cost-effective due to the maintenance of rarely used interfaces.
The future—and, in some cases, already the present
The workload can be reduced through greater use of standards. Key terms in this context include SILA, AnIML, the Allotrope Foundation, and the Pistoia Alliance. Standards are intended to make it easier for laboratory devices to communicate with one another and contribute data to shared data pools. On this basis, LIMS, ELN, and HIS systems, as well as others, can more easily access multiple data sources and enable cross-system searches and visualizations. The use of centralized, uniform repositories also facilitates the assurance of long-term archiving.