Laboratory informatics is the specialized application of information technology aimed at optimizing and extending laboratory operations. It encompasses
data acquisition Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real-world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems, abbreviated by the acro ...
(e.g. through sensors and hardware or voice), instrument interfacing, laboratory networking,
data processing, specialized data management systems (such as a
chromatography data system Chromatography software is software that collects and analyzes chromatographic results delivered by chromatography detector A chromatography detector is a device used in gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC) to detect components of t ...
), a
laboratory information management system
A laboratory information management system (LIMS), sometimes referred to as a laboratory information system (LIS) or laboratory management system (LMS), is a software-based solution with features that support a modern laboratory's operations. K ...
, scientific data management (including
data mining and
data warehousing
In computing, a data warehouse (DW or DWH), also known as an enterprise data warehouse (EDW), is a system used for reporting and data analysis and is considered a core component of business intelligence. DWs are central repositories of integr ...
), and knowledge management (including the use of an
electronic lab notebook
An electronic lab notebook (also known as electronic laboratory notebook, or ELN) is a computer program designed to replace paper laboratory notebooks. Lab notebooks in general are used by scientists, engineers, and technicians to document resear ...
). It has become more prevalent with the rise of other "
informatics" disciplines such as
bioinformatics,
cheminformatics and
health informatics. Several graduate programs are focused on some form of laboratory informatics, often with a clinical emphasis. A closely related - some consider subsuming - field is
laboratory automation
Laboratory automation is a multi-disciplinary strategy to research, develop, optimize and capitalize on technologies in the laboratory that enable new and improved processes. Laboratory automation professionals are academic, commercial and gover ...
.
Capability Areas
In the context of Public Health Laboratories, the
Association of Public Health Laboratories has identified 19 areas for self-assessment of laboratory informatics in their Laboratories Efficiencies Initiative.
These include the following Capability Areas.
* Laboratory Test Request and Sample Receiving
* Test Preparation, LIMS Processing, Test Results Recording and Verification
* Report Preparation and Distribution
* Laboratory Test Scheduling
* Prescheduled Testing
* Specimen and Sample Tracking/Chain of Custody
* Media, Reagents, Controls: Manufacturing and Inventory
* Interoperability and Data Exchange
* Statistical Analysis and Surveillance
* Billing for Laboratory Services
* Contract and Grant Management
* Training, Education and Resource Management
* Laboratory Certifications/Licensing
*
Customer Relationship Management
Customer relationship management (CRM) is a process in which a business or other organization administers its interactions with customers, typically using data analysis to study big data, large amounts of information.
CRM systems data collectio ...
* Quality Control (QC) and
Quality Assurance (QA) Management
* Laboratory Safety and Accident Investigation
* Laboratory Mutual Assistance/Disaster Recovery
* Core
IT Service Management
Information technology service management (ITSM) is the activities that are performed by an organization to design, build, deliver, operate and control information technology (IT) services offered to customers.
Differing from more technology-or ...
: Hardware, Software and Services
* Policies and Procedures, including Budgeting and Funding
Sub-topics
*
Laboratory information management system
A laboratory information management system (LIMS), sometimes referred to as a laboratory information system (LIS) or laboratory management system (LMS), is a software-based solution with features that support a modern laboratory's operations. K ...
(LIMS)
*
Chromatography data system Chromatography software is software that collects and analyzes chromatographic results delivered by chromatography detector A chromatography detector is a device used in gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC) to detect components of t ...
(CDS)
*
Electronic lab notebook
An electronic lab notebook (also known as electronic laboratory notebook, or ELN) is a computer program designed to replace paper laboratory notebooks. Lab notebooks in general are used by scientists, engineers, and technicians to document resear ...
(ELN)
*
List of ELN software packages
Organizations
Society for Laboratory Automation & Screening (SLAS)*
American Association for Clinical Chemistry
AACC (formerly known as the American Association for Clinical Chemistry) is a global scientific society dedicated to clinical laboratory science and its application to healthcare. AACC's current president is Carmen Wiley, PhD, and the associati ...
(AACC)
Laboratory Informatics Institute
Publications
American Laboratory
See also
*
Informatics
Further reading
* Nakagawa, Allen S., ''LIMS implementation and management'', Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 1994
* Liscouski, Joe, ''Laboratory and Scientific Computing a Strategic Approach'', John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1995
* Gibbon, Gerst, "A Brief History of LIMS", ''Laboratory Automation and Information Management'' 1996, ''32(1)'', 1-5
* Myers, J. D.; Fox-Dobbs, C.; Laird, J.; Le, Dai; Reich, D.; Curtz, T., "Electronic laboratory notebooks for collaborative research", In ''Proceedings of the 5th International Workshops on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises (WET ICE'96) (WET-ICE '96)'' IEEE Computer Society, Washington, DC, USA, 1996, 47-.
* Paszko, Christine; Pugsley, Carol, "Considerations in selecting a laboratory information management system (LIMS)", ''American Laboratory'', 2000, ''32(18)'', 38-42
* Paszko, Christine; Turner, Elizabeth; Hinton, Mary D., ''Laboratory Information Management Systems'', Revised & Expanded. CRC Press, 2001
* Tracy, Douglas S.; Nash, Robert A., "A Validation Approach for Laboratory Information Management Systems", ''Journal of Validation Technology'', 2002, ''9(1)'', 6-14
* Perry, Douglas
"Laboratory Informatics: Origin, Scope, and its Place in Higher Education" ''Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation'', 2004, ''9(6)'', 421 - 428
* Sterling, James D.
"Laboratory Automation Education" ''Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation'', 2004, ''9(5)'', A11-A12
* Sterling, James D.
"Laboratory automation curriculum at Keck Graduate Institute" ''Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation'', 2004, ''9(5)'', 331-335
* Taylor, Keith
"The status of electronic laboratory notebooks for chemistry and biology" ''Current Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development'', 2006, ''9(3)'': 348-353
* Wood, Simon,
"Comprehensive Laboratory Informatics: A Multilayer Approach" ''American Laboratory'', 2007, ''39(16)'', 20-23
* Metrick, Gloria
"Three Issues of LIMS/Laboratory Informatics That Can Cost Money" ''American Laboratory'', 2007, ''39(21)'', 10-11
* Calva, Diana; Lehman, Mario
"An analysis of the possible applications of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to a Clinical Laboratory Information Management System" ''International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security'', 2008, ''8(12)'', 82-86
* Shah, Kim
"Elevating laboratory informatics to assist decision-making" ''Pharmaceutical Technology Europe'', 2009, ''21(5)''
References
{{Informatics
Laboratory equipment
Science software
Health informatics
Data management software