Editorial Article
Wednesday February 24, 2010
Automation used to be found in only the largest biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories. Today, however, it is part of the workflow in all types of laboratories: small and large, academic as well as industrial. Whether you use an automated system for liquid handling or nucleic acid extraction or virtually anything else, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) may be something you are looking to implement -- or are already using. The right LIMS can help you manage samples, instruments, the users of those instruments, your overall workflow and more. If compliance is an issue, the efficiencies brought by the implementation of an LIMS can also help ensure regulatory compliance. In short, the LIMS manages the details (like where is sample AB243?) and also gives you the big picture view of your laboratory systems to help you and your laboratory run more efficiently.