Signs it is time to digitalise
- Nobody can say at a glance where a sample is in the process
- Results are retyped from instrument to form to report, with transcription errors
- Spreadsheets with unclear versions and no validation
- Long report turnaround and approval steps that cannot be traced
- Finding a record for an assessor takes hours
What a LIMS digitalises
Sample management
Registration, barcode labels, chain of custody, work orders, workload allocation and due-date tracking.
Results and reporting
Instrument integration, automatic calculations, limit checks, multi-step approval and report generation.
Quality and resources
Equipment calibration and maintenance, chemicals and reference materials, staff competence records, control charts.
Data integrity
User authorisation, audit trail, backups and controlled data changes.
ISO/IEC 17025 and data management
Clause 7.11 requires the information management systems used for laboratory activities to be validated before use, protected from unauthorised access, changed only under control and safeguarded for data integrity. A LIMS project is therefore not just software installation — it is part of your quality management system.
Our LIMS implementation approach
- Needs analysis: current workflows, data flows and bottlenecks, reviewed on site.
- User requirements specification (URS): selection criteria and must-have functions in writing.
- Vendor evaluation: demo scripts and a technical and functional comparison of offers.
- Implementation project: configuration, master data (methods, parameters, limits), instrument integration and data migration.
- Validation: test scripts that verify functionality, with documented results.
- Go-live and training: user training and procedures updated for the new system.
Setting up a new laboratory? Planning the LIMS during laboratory setup avoids later data migration and process rework.
Deliverables
- Workflow and data flow analysis
- User requirements specification (URS)
- Vendor comparison matrix and demo scripts
- Validation plan, test scripts and validation report
- Spreadsheet validation records
- Updated procedures and user training records