As an Operations, Production, QA, QC or Laboratory Manager:

•  How would you like to improve quality, reduce costs and enhance traceability and auditing?
  

• At the same time increase the speed of analysis, accuracy of data entry*, investigation of out of specification investigations, speed up your reporting and ensure that your SOPs are being followed.

• Also Improve output and delivery and even reduce stress and analyst / operator training time

The answer is simple:

Get Connected!

Autoscribe offer a full service for interfacing your instruments to any LIMS and can also supply fully configurable integrated Instrument – LIMS and Instrument – CDS systems. Payback for instrument integration projects is typically < 1year.

If you would like to improve quality, increase production and reduce costs then:

Get Connected!

For further Information or to arrange a local or web based demonstration please contact:

Please contact us or alternatively, please complete our information request form

References
*Transcription Errors
  There was complete and accurate transcription in 67.6% (n = 645) of cases, a failure to  
  transcribe in 23.6% (n = 225) and inaccurate transcription in 8.8% (n = 84).
  Transcription was significantly more accurate in the morning (p = 0.02).
  R. Black; P. Woolman; J. Kinsella; Anaesthesia, Volume 59, Number 8, August 2004, pp. 767-769(3)

Maximize your R.O.I. - Easy to install, implement and configure. Compatible with all Matrix LIMS and Scientific Solution products.

...Instrument Interfacing - Helping you maximize the return on your investment in your LIMS.

Eliminate Errors Due to Manual Processing
Manual data transcription incurs an error rate of 3% each time the data is transcribed. Performing manual calculations on the data further increases the error rate.

"...we eliminated transcription & calculations errors that are inherent in manual data management."

Reduce the Cost of Data Management
Time spent manually reporting to LIMS could be better spent running samples. Automation dramatically reduces the labor costs associated with data reporting, improves the quality and reduces the costs.

"Eliminating manual handling of chromatography data, saved 15 man-hours per day"

Deliver Sample Results to the LIMS Faster
A sample result in the lab is just a number, in the LIMS it’s an asset. Timely reporting of sample results to your LIMS gives your business a competitive edge.

"LimsLink has reduced the amount of time for getting ICP data into the LIMS from 7 hours down to approximately 15 minutes"

Interfacing Insight - If you accept even one of the myths ldescribed below as fact then you are missing out on making significant improvements in how you manage your instrument data - so contact us today.

 "The 5 Myths of Instrument Interfacing"

by Robert Pavlis, President of Labtronics Inc.

In its short history, the LIMS industry has seen more than a few myths come and go. Most of the time they are the result of misconceptions that are based on misunderstanding. Unfortunately, a laboratory that accepts these myths as fact may be missing out on an opportunity to make a significant improvement in the efficiency of their data management.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 myths about LIMS interfacing and see if we can find the real truth behind them.

Myth #1: Interfacing is easy, you just need an instrument driver

This myth has its origins in the very early days of LIMS interfacing when LIMS developers started using instrument drivers to create interfaces. In theory this approach seemed to make a lot of sense. Create a driver for each instrument, and in short order you have interfacing solutions for most common lab instruments. In practice it did not work very well.

One problem was that the data generated by the instrument is often not the final result. A wide variety of data manipulations may need to be applied to the instrument data before it is ready for the LIMS. For example an instrument result may need to be corrected for sample weight before being reported. An instrument driver would have to be created that could perform specific calculations.

Another problem came out of the reality that laboratories use their instruments in many different ways. Different configurations of the instrument can result in data being generated in a different format. A generic driver that is setup for a default instrument configuration may not work with an instrument that has been configured in even a slightly different manner.

When all of these possible variations are taken into consideration it becomes clear that the driver based solution leads to an endless number of different drivers each one accommodating a certain configuration of a specific instrument. This is exactly what the LIMS industry found.

In the early 90’s the LIMS developers discovered that more flexible solutions like LimsLink from Labtronics Inc., could be easily configured to meet a wide range of requirements. They soon became the most popular choice for interfacing, as they allowed each lab to create interfaces to meet their specific needs, without the need for custom programming. 

Myth #2: LIMS interfaces reduce the control that the analyst has over reporting results

This myth is usually found in situations where people have developed their own interfaces. Most “home made” interfaces simply shuttle data from the instrument to the LIMS providing no opportunity for interaction with the analyst. This may lead them to conclude that LIMS interfaces do not provide them with enough control over the data that gets reported to the LIMS.

A good LIMS interface can be designed to work in either of two basic ways. One choice is to have the interface work as a black box, where the analyst never interacts with the software that is connecting the instrument to the LIMS. This is a good choice if the interface is integrated with good instrument software. The analyst can work with the instrument software, perform calculations, and then selectively report results to the LIMS. If the instrument software is powerful and flexible enough, there is no need for the analyst to even see the LIMS interface program.

There are many other situations where a black box solution is not the best choice. For example, the data from one instrument might need to be combined with a second instrument (ex weights from a balance), or calculations may need to be performed that the instrument software does not support. In some cases the instrument software may not provide the selectivity the analyst needs. For example, ICP analyses where the analyst may need to use the interface to review results and select the correct ranges to report for each element.

In these and other cases, the analyst wants an interface that they can interact with, one that can process the instrument data, and then present the results to the analyst for review. This type of interface provides the analyst with a great deal of control over the data being reported to LIMS

Fortunately there are LIMS interfacing solutions that are designed to work both ways. They can be implemented as a black box with some instruments or as a data processor with full review capabilities with other instruments. A good interfacing solution can give the analyst as much control over the data, as the application requires.

Myth #3: Instruments are supplied with LIMS connectivity

Most instrument software brochures claim to provide “LIMS connectivity” as one of their features. This is understandable as each instrument manufacturer wants to be competitive, and being able to connect with LIMS is a very desirable feature.

Unfortunately, it is very rare that the instrument software provides a true LIMS interface. In reality what this usually means is that the instrument software will produce an ASCII file in a fixed format. Some type of interfacing solution is still required to complete the interface. It becomes the customer’s responsibility to purchase the interface separately.

Customers are starting to demand that the interface become part of the total instrument package. In a recent survey conducted by Labtronics Inc., the majority of customers indicated that they would purchase the LIMS interface along with a new instrument purchase.

In response to this demand, Labtronics Inc. has established an Instrument Manufacturers Partnership Program. The program provides instrument vendors with an easy way to supply a LIMS interface as part of their total instrument package.

Hanson Research has taken advantage of this program to build direct LIMS connectivity right into “Bill”, their new Dissolution Data System. Using a free API supplied through the Partnership Program; Bill allows analysts to interface directly with any LIMS, selecting LIMS worklists and transferring results back to the LIMS, without ever having to leave the application.

As more instrument vendors adopt this new technology, the claim that their software provides “LIMS connectivity” will move from myth to reality.

Myth #4: Instrument interfacing is costly

Instrument interfacing is not inexpensive, but that does not mean it is costly. Studies have shown that for instruments that are used routinely, or for instruments such as ICP, AA, and chromatography that produce a lot of data per sample, the return on investment (ROI) can be less than a year.

The real benefit from LIMS interfacing is more reliable data. However the cost of using incorrect data is rarely considered when looking at the ROI of interfacing. Without a proper interface, all of the data collected to the LIMS is suspect due to typographical errors. The cost of professionally installed LIMS interfacing will typically amount to less than 10% of the total LIMS cost, a small price to pay to protect the integrity of the data. Leaving out the LIMS interface component is like connecting your computer to the Internet, but not adding virus protection.

One reason that the interface may seem expensive is that people think of it as simply connecting two things together. As we have already seen a good LIMS interface does a lot more than that. For example, a professional interface provider will evaluate sample flow in the lab before implementing the solution. In many cases the process of adding the interface will result in a more streamlined process due to more efficient sample flow.

Myth #5: It doesn’t make sense to interface old instruments that need to be replaced

It is possible that some very old instruments do not have any data connection, making them difficult or impossible to interface. However, most old instruments can be interfaced. Laboratories may be reluctant to interface these instruments because they think that when they buy a new instrument, they will also have to buy a new interface. And that is Myth #5.

Changing a LIMS interface to match a new instrument can be extremely easy and cost effective. A proper interfacing solution can be changed by a simple change in configuration and will require no programming to connect with the new instrument. These changes can often be done by the end user or by support personnel using an on-line service like WebEx. Holding off on interfacing until a new instrument is purchased, is really false economy. That decision just delays the cost savings that a good interface can provide.

The same argument can be applied to LIMS. A lab that is planning to change their LIMS may not think that it makes sense to implement a LIMS interface until the new LIMS is in place. In fact the opposite can be true.

At Labtronics we recently had a customer who implemented a CDS/LIMS interface with their existing LIMS, knowing that they were migrating to a new LIMS in just a few months. Experience with the interface allowed them to make better decisions when implementing their new LIMS resulting in better sample flow and improved efficiency. When the new LIMS was ready, it took just 3 hours to convert the interface. 

… and one fact

Now you know the reality behind the myths, the truth behind the stories. If the any of these myths have kept your lab from pursuing the benefits of LIMS interfacing, then it is probably time to take a second look. My 17 years of interfacing experience has shown me one truth, once laboratories have LIMS interfacing in place and have experienced the benefits, they never want to go without it. And that’s a fact.

Autoscribe is a Labtronics partner. Contact Autoscribe today for further details on how we can interface your instruments to LIMS or other systems and improve your ROI, profitablity, quality and user happiness. We have trained staff who can fully implement and support your laboratory instruments to any system.

In Summary LIMSLink is:

• Suitable for all instruments, including RS232, TCP/IP and instruments with data systems
 
• Full security and audit trail implementation meets regulatory requirements
 
• Can be implemented as a client/server application or as a standalone workstation

• All the features of LimsLink, plus specialized functionality for any Chromatography Data Systems
 
• Embedded interfacing technology provides direct, transparent connection between the CDS and the LIMS
 
• Configurable interfaces simplify integration with major Chromatography Data Systems

• Cost-effective solution that provides the basic functionality of LimsLink, without adding the overhead of some advanced features. Reduces the time required to implement interfaces

 Converts Excel® into a powerful data collection tool

• Provides easy data collection from RS232 instruments  
   
• Create automated procedures to guide the user through the process of reporting to LIMS
   
• Select Collect Pro when you need to collect from RS232 instruments and when a high level of security is not a requirement 

Contact Autoscribe for further information.