LIMSzine
The following page contains information on:
Networking Key to Laboratory Productivity
AT&T Enters LIMS Market
Software Tool Streamlines ECG Analysis
Testing the Ease of Use Threshold
Industry News
Curtis & Tompkins, Ltd. (C&T) [Berkeley, Calif], an independent
laboratory specializing in environmental applications, uses a world class
manufacturing approach that views the laboratory as a factory in the measurement
business rather than a research and development operation. According to
Bruce Godfrey, President, C&T focuses on total process automation of
environmental services, with the objective of producing environmental analyses
better, faster and cheaper.
C&T felt that specialization and high-speed, high-volume production
required data management services with a considerable degree of refinement,
with the laboratory not only managing data for its clients, but providing
value along with the numbers. C&T determined that the principle means
by which these objectives could be attained is through networking.
A "toolbox" approach was employed to network construction, and
four tools were identified as necessary to build the network: (1) a user-programmable
instrument interface directly coupled to (2) a relational database management
program (RDBMS); (3) a laboratory-specific program within the RDBMS structured
into a flexible LIMS application to capture and report laboratory data;
and, (4) the system hardware.
The production laboratory instrumentation between two labs was tied together
into open systems computer networks using standard communications protocols
compatible with hardware and software from a variety of vendors. Hewlett-Packard UNIX systems provide both
raw data and a summary data sheet relevant to each sample run. Rather than
design an RDBMS, C&T purchased a commercially available LIMS application
built around Oracle software. The LIMS was then used as a launchpad to pursue
productivity objectives by directly interfacing instruments to a central
database that holds analysis results and creating databases within the LIMS
to manage data. Network success is measured in response time: C&T's
laboratories now produce paper and diskette deliverables, compliance checks,
organized and paginated, invoiced and ready for client delivery within 10
minutes of completing the last analysis.
AT&T Enters LIMS Market
AT&T is entering the LIMS market by joining forces with forensic LIMS
developer, Bill Deaton Systems [Benton Harbor, MI]. The product, AT&T
LIMS-plus, will be marketed by AG Communication Systems, a joint venture
of AT&T and GTE. AT&T LIMS-plus will offer a high level of customization
for the specialized needs of each laboratory environment, according to John
Riddle, AT&T LIMS-plus product team leader. "With AT&T LIMS-plus,
forensics staff can spend less of their valuable time and resources on administrative
paperwork and tracking, and focus more effort on fighting crime." In
addition to products for forensics labs, AT&T LIMS-plus will focus development
activities on energy, environmental and water treatment LIMS.
Software Tool Streamlines ECG Analysis
Numerous studies on a variety of animals are conducted as part of the testing
methodology of pharmaceutical agents used for cardiovascular ailments. "Researchers
are looking at variables as a function of time and dosage," explains
Eugene Kwatny, President of Gateway Applied Systems [Elkins Park, PA]. "Questions
such as how long does it take for affects to appear and disappear help determine
dosage safety for humans before market release."
The faster such information is placed into an electronic form, the more
effective the researcher can be. VecgLAB, by Gateway Applied Systems, is
a complete system for collection and analysis of canine electrocardiograms
(ECG). It permits sequential analysis of ECGs from many animals with minimal
operator interaction. Used by pharmaceutical companies such as Glaxo Pharmaceuticals,
Bristol-Myers-Squibb, and Rhone-Poulenc, VecgLAB is primarily a pharmacological
application where the animals are free-roaming and have implanted telemetry
devices to transmit the ECG waveforms.
According to Kwatny, the GLP-oriented software assists in the rapid evaluation
and assessment of the ECG, providing an in-depth view of important ECG components,
while increasing researcher productivity because it automates data collection
and eliminates manual data entry. Reports that highlight different critical
variables, such as waveforms of interest in the ECG and indicators of cardiovascular
activity, can then be generated and distilled into StudyIt!, another Gateway
program, which manages the analysis results by automatically building a
database structure and acting as an interface between the instruments and
analysis programs such as spreadsheets. Within an hour after a study is
complete, the researcher can query the StudyIt! database to extract the
variables of interest and produce the appropriate charts, graphs, etc.
Testing the Ease of Use Threshold
Phil Lofty, Chief Scientist at Morton International's Electronic Materials
division [Tustin, CA], has an interesting take on testing the ease of use
threshold for laboratory data management systems and applications. "RS1
barely met the threshold of our needs. SQL Plus and SQL Report Writer are
powerful but difficult to use. The way I define threshold is "Can a
Vice President use this within 30 minutes?" You laugh, but we actually
test products on a VP when we can tie one down long enough," Lofty
smiles. "Don't get me wrong, there's not one computer phobe in this
place, but when it comes down to using the equipment, we don't want to spend
time on something that's not easy to use and we don't want to spend time
learning to use something either. Basically our approach is that everyone's
time is as important as a VP's."
Industry News
Varian Associates [Palo Alto, CA] recently held a pair of seminars on their
Star Laboratory Information Management Systems, StarLIMS. The half day seminar,
which was attended by customers and information seekers, addressed the need
for a LIMS and the typical sample life cycle as handled by a LIMS. Terri
Simpler, StarLIMS Specialist, suggested purchasing ASTM's LIMS Buyer's Guide
[available for $23 by calling ASTM at 215-299-5400 and requesting publication
#E-1578] to assist with the initial LIMS analysis. She described the sample
life cycle as being comprised of five stages: log-in, which includes the
sample description or specifications and assignment of the sample; scheduling,
which includes quality control and testing criteria; results entry; approval;
and reporting. The importance of using a LIMS to track sample status throughout
the process was emphasized. The different types of LIMS were also discussed.
QSI and Concurrent Computer Corp. have announced a joint marketing arrangement
designed to provide a smooth migration path for users of LIMS 2000 to the
advanced WinLIMS software using a MAXION UNIX server.