Linking laboratory instruments to LIMS

Linking laboratory instruments to a LIMS provides a unique set of challenges because of the sheer variety of programs, file formats and interfacing requirements adopted by instrument manufacturers. Available from Autoscribe, LimsLink is a comprehensive and flexible instrument to LIMS interfacing solution, designed to collect data from a broad range of instruments, reformat that data and report it to a LIMS.

LimsLink is an ideal companion product to Matrix Plus LIMS.

With a sophisticated data parser, integrated spreadsheet, powerful Special Functions and highly flexible reporting system, LimsLink contains the tools needed to meaningfully communicate between Matrix Plus and all of your instrumentation.

The parsing engine found in LimsLink is a graphically driven parser that allows for multiple parsing steps using multiple parsing schemes.

A representative raw data file is first collected and displayed within LimsLink.

To extract data from the input stream, the user simply chooses the type of delimiter that is appropriate for the data they are extracting and then highlights that data with their mouse and links it to a cell within the Single Sample Spreadsheet (SSS).

Selectively highlighting the regions of the data that are required and linking these regions into the spreadsheet template creates the data parser.

The Single Sample Spreadsheet (SSS) becomes the repository for all of the data that is being stored for a given sample.

This can include sample information that has been downloaded from the LIMS.

Results from the instrument are recorded in the SSS where they can be combined with data from other instruments.

If additional calculations need to be performed on the data, this can be done from within the SSS.

For processing that extends beyond the spreadsheet functionality, a Special Function can be called to work with the data contained in the SSS.

LimsLink Special Functions can be utilised with any instrument interface to address the individual data management requirements of each laboratory analysis.

For example, an instrument may use a date and time stamp format that needs to be converted before being entered into the LIMS.

Or you may need to confirm that a QC sample is within limits, before posting the run data to the LIMS.

For multi-element analyses there may be a sophisticated review process that determines which elements from which samples are approved for reporting.

Once results have been reviewed, a single key press can automatically produce a series of reports.

For example, data can be sent to Matrix Plus, a lab report can be printed, exception reports can be generated, a summary report can be sent to a lab manager and an archive file can be created.

Reports can also be generated automatically without any manual intervention.

A LimsLink interface can automatically analyse the data, selecting only the appropriate data to report and directing reports to the appropriate location. Using one interfacing solution for all instrumentation reduces the learning curve from development, through implementation and support, right to the end user.

Whether the need is to interface one instrument or for an enterprise wide solution, LimsLink is the standard that provides consistency throughout the laboratory.