Six Steps To Achieving A Unified & Harmonised Lab

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Pharma IQ
Pharma IQ
05/31/2016

A fully integrated laboratory can equip a pharma or biotech firm with better precision for decision-making as well as an acceleration in productivity.

However, achieving end to end lab interoperability has its obstacles. One key factor being that the informatics tools used across a pharma firm, such as LIMS, ELN, SDMS, a CDS, were not designed with the concept integration in view. The software was originally sculpted to solely provide their allocated capability.  Therefore, the task of integrating the data into the rest of the lab’s workflow, is usually left to the user.

Ahead of the Lab Informatics Summit, Pharma IQ presents a selection of considerations to assist labs on their route to full integration and interoperability.

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Channel Culture Change for Workflow Automation

Workflow automation is realized from the ground level of an organization, so it’s imperative that key stakeholders and laboratory members understand the objectives and advantages of a harmonized lab. The impressions of scientists need to be informed so they can fully understand why more structured data actually is a benefit to them and how the set up of their experiments can impact their returns from this project.

User friendly intuitive methods and visualisation packages can go a long way in moving towards complete lab integration. 

Create An Accessible Interface

A crucial element to a lab informatics platform is how the various systems interface with others to prevent the occurrence of data rich silos. The interface needs to be accessible by the masses and not just a finite level of experts. This visibility will help reduce the duplication of efforts across departments on a global scale, as well as allowing the entire firm to utilise the full expanse of data available. 

Minimise Cost

Integration comes with a financial cost with the main area of investment being in the systems themselves. Some industry analysts have noted that there are several consumer technologies which could provide value to an integrated laboratory. Use of these technologies can help to minimise the cost of an integrated lab if they are permitted for use. Similarly, third party technologies can provide savings over the custom development of in-house systems.

Imposing standards for data interchange is another tactic to cut costs in laboratory integration projects. Scientific Computing World’s Laboratory Informatics Guide 2014 noted that:, “Improved productivity is increasingly dependent on automation and the elimination of inefficient steps and manipulations in data handling. Standards for data interchange would simplify instrument interfaces, cut interfacing costs, reduce errors and simplify validation.”

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