Laboratory information and management system: A tool to increase laboratory productivity

Abstract

‘Information is a crucial capital asset of any business and its commercial prospect is directly related to successful management of its information resources’. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is software that is designed to administer samples, acquire and manipulate data, and report results via a database. It automates the process of sampling, analysis, and reporting. This paper discusses components, sample workflow, application, and validation of LIMS. The contents of this paper are easy to understand. The objective of this paper is to discuss how LIMS works and its application, and to discuss a potential approach to validation of the LIMS. A literature search was conducted in various journals. Based on title and abstract, 30 papers were identified. Extraction of useful information was done after thorough study of selected papers. Components of LIMS, how it works, its application, and potential approach of validation of LIMS was compiled in an easy-to-understand way. In conclusion, LIMS is a critical component of successful commercial laboratory in quality control, process control, and R&D environment.

Keywords::

• LIMS
• database
• reporting
• decision
• quality control
• management tool
• validation
• GAMP V model