Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

LIMS stands for Laboratory Information Management System. It is a type of software used in labs in various industries to improve productivity and efficiency by automating processes and tracking all data associated with the sample life-cycle and related data such as test results, inventory, instrumentation, personnel, reporting, and process workflow automation. Read more about what a LIMS is and what LIMS can do.

The key function of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is streamlined data management. The right LIMS finds the balance between record-keeping and report management. A configurable LIMS also provides laboratory solutions that meet unique workflows and data collection needs. Since different industries hold different regulatory standards, your LIMS design should come outfitted to fit your specifications. A few key features include:

• Sample tracking and management
• Standard operating procedure that ensure repeatability
• Scheduling
• Automated reporting and data analytic tools
• Staff training and competency management
• Instrument maintenance and integration
• Inventory and supply management
• Quality assurance/quality control
• Quality improvement cycle reporting
• Violation handling
• Validation and approval workflows

There are many advantages to a LIMS, no matter the size or scale of your laboratory. By managing and automating key functions of your lab, a LIMS saves you time and costs associated with nearly every area of daily operations. Adopting a proven LIMS software application can bring your lab distinct benefits whether you’re transitioning from an outdated, heavily manual system or from a software management program that isn’t created specifically for the unique operations of a laboratory environment.

Because LIMS software is adaptable to your specific operations, it can support any of the following tasks or activities that may be applicable to your lab:

• Sample management
• Analysis management
• Project management
• Customer or vendor management
• Sample and task scheduling
• Sample workflow design and automation
• Sample collection
• Sample receipt or login
• Test result entry
• Validation and approval
• Final reporting
• Certificate of analysis
• Invoicing
• Quality assurance and control
• Label printing and barcoding
• Inventory management
• Personnel management
• Compliance management
• Analytics

When looking for a LIMS system, there are a few very important things to consider. One of the most crucial factors is continued support and service. The truth is that there will be several LIMS that meet your needs, LABWORKS being one of them. However, because it is likely that you will have your LIMS for 10+ years it is important to choose the right partner that will not only help you have a successful implementation but one that will work hard to achieve and maintain your satisfaction in the long-term. A key part of your long-term satisfaction is related to support but it will also includes product innovation and improvements. Therefore, it is important to choose a vendor that is not only committed to customer support and satisfaction but also product innovation that is aligned with industry trends and best practices. It is also important to look for LIMS vendors and solutions that provide a simple and intuitive user experience, have flexibility to be easily configured to meet your needs, provide easy upgrades,and can ensure a straightforward and successful installation. While a LIMS must meet your needs it is especially important to choose a vendor with robust reporting and analytical tools. Sometimes a LIMS vendor is only as good as the resources they assign to your project so make sure your implementation and support teams are not only experienced but are experts in your industry. Other factors to look for in a Laboratory Information Management System include:

• Fair and transparent pricing
• Configuration tools to avoid costly customizations
• Industry-specific solutions
• Regulatory compliance or industry certifications solutions

Yes; a laboratory information management system is designed to improve the productivity and efficiency of your laboratory at every level. In a recent survey we conducted, over 100 customer respondents stated that they saw an average of 50%-70% increase in productivity throughout the lab after implementing their LIMS. Increased productivity was achieved through small tasks, such as implementing barcoding to reduce the amount of time it takes to enter data or to find an item. In the long run, this reduces the time it takes to prepare for an audit from weeks to hours.

Most lab managers find that a LIMS also improves performance by guaranteeing a higher level of data accuracy and quality control, thanks to automations designed to reduce or eliminate human errors.

When looking at lab performance strictly from a cost perspective, the impact is also significant: our same recent survey found that labs implementing LIMS solutions typically see a return on investment in 1-3 years. When coming from a manual paper environment, the ROI is seen in one year or less.

Modern labs face stricter regulations, tighter data integrity standards, and faster customer expectations while managing overwhelming data from sophisticated instruments. A LIMS eliminates the chaos of spreadsheets and paper notebooks by creating one central system where instruments feed data directly, workflows stay consistent, and audit trails generate in hours instead of weeks.

LIMS gives you operational visibility that high-performing labs depend on. You’ll spot bottlenecks early, track productivity trends, and make data-driven staffing decisions. Labs without modern LIMS are simply at a disadvantage: they’re slower, make more errors, and can’t scale like their LIMS-enabled competitors.