Buyers Guide

Table of Contents

• What is Laboratory Information Management System?
• The benefits of Laboratory Information Management System
• Typical features of Laboratory Information Management System
• The cost of Laboratory Information Management System
• Considerations when purchasing Laboratory Information Management System
• Relevant Laboratory Information Management System trend

What is Laboratory Information Management System?

Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software makes labs more efficient and productive by gathering an enormous amount of diverse laboratory data into a centralized location for record keeping and analysis. LIMS software streamlines lab operations by automating tedious and error-prone data entry and alerting technicians to problems with samples or with the testing operation itself.

Some people refer to LIMS software and laboratory informatics system (LIS) software interchangeably. However, LIS platforms focus on patient care, while LIMS platforms are more common in non-clinical industries, such as public health, research, and other sample-based testing fields.

The benefits of Laboratory Information Management System

• Capture laboratory results, track trends, and highlight aberrations: LIMS software consolidates data into a searchable record. Labs can visualize this data using tables and graphs. Technicians can configure alerts when sample metrics exceed predefined benchmarks, such as abnormal pH or excessive temperature. Observing these informatics allows lab technicians to better do their jobs.
• Speed up lab operations: More efficient sample management allows labs to conduct more tests in less time. Many laboratories make money based on the number of samples they process, so increasing sample volume increases revenue. Faster operations can also contribute to better patient outcomes, faster time to market for products, and seamless quality assurance.
• Improve compliance through secure data management: Many industries have regulations and current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) regarding privacy and data security. For example, US healthcare labs are often subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Many LIMS software platforms in the healthcare space provide secure data storage and procedures to support HIPAA compliance. Likewise, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21 CFR Part 11 sets forth CGMPs for electronic records. Features such as encryption and a privacy-conscious interface can help laboratories fulfill compliance obligations and expectations.

Typical features of Laboratory Information Management System

The following features are common among most LIMS software:

• Reporting and analytics: Capture laboratory data in a secure environment built purposefully for the kind of analysis you perform.
• Sample management: Store, track, and analyze critical laboratory sample details such as source, location, condition, and results.
• Compliance tracking: Create records verifying that your lab follows industry regulations and CGMPs.
• Electronic data interchange (EDI): Receive data directly from laboratory equipment and transfer it to other destinations, such as electronic health records (EHRs).
• Workflow management: Design lab operations to run smoothly by automating data transfer between personnel throughout the lab’s processing cycle.
• Quality assurance: Improve systems to look for mistakes, defects, product alignment, etc.
• Document management: Upload documents into a central library for easy stakeholder access, security, and regulatory compliance.

The cost of Laboratory Information Management System

Most products in this market are priced on a per user, per month basis. Pricing can be divided into three pricing tiers based on the starting prices:

Price ranges*:

• $7 - $10
• $10 - $206
• $206+

*The pricing included is for the entry-level/lowest priced offering found on vendor websites on October 12, 2020. These ranges correspond to the 25th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of pricing information gathered from vendor websites of sample products.

Considerations when purchasing Laboratory Information Management System

Every laboratory is different. The following considerations can help you choose the right LIMS for your lab:

• LIMS software tends to be specialized by industry and laboratory size: If possible, look for solutions that offer the features you need right out of the box. For instance, healthcare labs should look for EHR integration and built-in HIPAA compliance. Forensics labs should look for sample management tools to support chain of custody. Research labs should find platforms with a built-in electronic laboratory notebook (ELN). Enterprise labs should look for heavily automated solutions, inventory management, and strong quality assurance features. Whatever work you do, invest in a specialized LIMS that fits your industry.
• LIMS solutions are available at every price point: The most affordable options are free and open source. These can be a good place to start if you're a small operation, such as a physician office lab. However, understand that you will probably be limited by the number of accounts you can have, the number of tests you can perform, or the types of customizations available to you. Many platforms offer scalable solutions that can grow with your lab. If you find a solution tailored to meet your needs, but cost is a factor, there may be a way to sign on with the platform on a smaller scale at first. Then, you can upgrade over time.

Relevant Laboratory Information Management System trend

• Laboratory equipment integration is becoming a must-have feature. In the past, lab technicians would perform testing and then manually enter results data into the LIMS software. Nowadays, most modern lab equipment provides an application programming interface (API) to connect machines straight to the LIMS, which creates many new possibilities. For example, environmental labs can record the presence of chemicals without manual data entry. Food manufacturers can record continuous production temperature data rather than intermittent samples. Pharmaceutical companies can pre-program centrifuge startups, ramps, and durations to precisely control potential variables. These are just a few of the ways that integrated LIMS platforms are proving themselves to be a critical asset to any laboratory.