What is a LIMS, and how does LIMS software work?

Thermo Scientific Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Software features solutions for lab data management, visualization, and workflow management. This helps improve your productivity and efficiency by automating your lab’s workflows and tracking all the data related to your samples, instruments, equipment, tests, and results.

 

With a modern LIMS, you can overcome the challenges of manual operations, connect, and keep track of your lab, make faster and better decisions, and demonstrate regulatory compliance — all while building a strong foundation for your lab’s digital transformation.

Find out more about LIMS in our Guide to LIMS eBook


Benefits of a LIMS?

A LIMS is the digital backbone of your lab, giving you greater control of your data and processes, and helping increase efficiency and productivity.

 

Do less manual work and save time

An advanced LIMS helps you reduce manual intervention to minimize the possibility of

human error, generate more accurate data and results, and free up analysts to focus on science. With a digital solution, you can also reduce the time spent tracking and updating paper records.

Realize the cost savings of a LIMS with our ROI calculator

Keep track of your lab

Monitor your lab in real time, and see the status of samples, workflows, projects, and more. With a LIMS, you can better track reagents and consumables in your lab — from expiration dates and inventory levels to reorder frequency. Moreover, you can record each step of your workflow, optimize instrument usage, oversee instrument performance and maintenance, and track operational efficiency from start to finished product.
 

Improve decision-making

With easy-to-interpret reports and powerful trending capabilities, you can more easily extract the insights needed to anticipate requirements and avoid issues, as well as better solve the most complex lab problems. Dashboards and data visualization capabilities in the LIMS allows you to track the lab’s overall performance and assigned work. The system also captures all relationships and metadata, and that information can be reported on, shared, analyzed and audited, enabling you to work with data and make decisions about the lab's performance in context.
 

Drive regulatory compliance and data integrity

An advanced LIMS helps you comply with regulations such as GMP, GXP, ISO 17025, 21 CFR Part 11, and CAP/CLIA. Additionally, some LIMS software can also be used to demonstrate complete sample traceability, from data acquisition to results, and produce a full audit trail of every action performed on each sample.
 

Improve product quality and risk mitigation

Advanced LIMS enable the data capture, analysis, and rich process insights needed for continuous improvement and better-quality products. The right LIMS can also drive more repeatable QA processes, and better inform your team regarding instrument maintenance requirements — helping you mitigate errors and risks.
 

Enable scale-up

With greater workflow automation and reduced process errors, labs can better scale their laboratory operations and processes in line with the growth rate of the business. 

Our LIMS software features

 

Sample management

Ensure sample integrity, data quality, and a proper chain of custody by managing shipment, accessioning, and inventory processes.

 

Lab automation

Automate workflows by connecting with liquid handling instruments and synthesis workstations from different vendors.


Instrument management

Increase instrument uptime and ensure appropriate resourcing for busy periods by monitoring instrument status and scheduling work and maintenance.

 

Mobile LIMS

Easily execute methods and collect and process samples using a tablet.

 

Inventory management

Track item location and use-by dates, and assign automatic reorder alerts.


Collaborative work environment

Collaborate more effectively by collecting and sharing data securely in real-time, locally or across the globe.

 

 

Laboratory management

Visualize and manage all your lab resources, and get clear overviews of the labs’ status to determine timelines, report on turnaround times, and resource projects.

 

Dashboard and lab data visualization

Smoothly track the lab’s performance and assigned work.

 

SOP compliance

Guide analysts through workflows and capture all actions to drive compliance to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

 

Enterprise integration

Seamlessly connect to enterprise systems such as Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and other laboratory systems, such as Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) and Chromatography Data Systems (CDS).

Regulatory compliance

Get secure system access and comply with the latest industry regulations and data integrity guidance documents, including GxP, ISO 17025, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11.

 

Reporting and data analytics

Capture all relationships and metadata. Easily share, compare, analyze, report, and audit your information, enabling users to work with data in context.

 

Workflows

Automate decisions and actions, reduce user intervention, and better adapt to process changes thanks to graphical workflows that map to lab processes.

 

 

Cloud or on-premises deployment

Deploy your LIMS on-site or via a managed cloud for reduced up-front hardware and IT investment.

 

 

Data security

Compatible with identity and access management systems including OAuth 2.0, with capabilities for multi-factor authentication.

 

 

Data archival

Comply with the latest regulations by ensuring proper electronic records retention and data archival.